Call of peace in NRW: Easter marches for a peaceful future

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the traditional Easter marches of the peace movement have started, which will take place in 16 cities in the federal state this year. These marches are part of a Germany -wide call for peace and against upgrading. The kick-off in the Münsterland was celebrated the day before, while the three-day "Rhein-Ruhr" Eastern March starts in Duisburg today. The participants will move through the Ruhr area and end on Easter Monday in Dortmund.

The various rallies that take place this weekend also include events in Wuppertal, Hamm, Münster, Bonn, Bielefeld and Cologne. These protest actions are aimed primarily at the current upgrade plans and appeal to the population to campaign for peace and militarization. The Easter marches have lost number of participants in recent years, while hundreds of thousands used to go on the streets. The decline in the number of participants is attributed, among other things, to the lack of a uniform occasion, as was the case in the past, for example in the Gulf Wars or the NATO double decision.

The peace movement is also criticized this year, in particular with regard to its position in the context of the Ukraine conflict. Some organizers of Easter marches require a stop of the arms deliveries to Ukraine, which leads to controversy within the movement. The discussion about peace strategies and the role of Germany in conflicts, especially in relation to war in Ukraine, are central issues of this year's events.

In view of these developments, the topic of peace and disarmament in society is becoming more important. The Easter marches offer a platform for public exchange and discussions about security and peace policy, which is particularly relevant in view of the tense geopolitical situation. The expectations of the participants and the social feedback on these protests will make it exciting how the peace movement will position themselves in the future.

The Easter marches in NRW are therefore not only a tradition, but also a forum of current political discussions and an expression of the commitment of many citizens for a more peaceful world.