"We are the people"

The decisive event of the peaceful revolution was the large Monday demonstration on the 9th of October, 1989 in Leipzig. 70,000 demonstrators overcame their fears and faced the armed security forces with their chant “We are the people”. The peaceful revolution could no longer be held back. With their courage, the people of Leipzig contributed greatly to the fall of the GDR regime.

People in many large cities and small towns demonstrated against the regime but Leipzig stands, perhaps more than any other place, as exemplary for the peaceful revolution in the minds of people in and beyond Germany. The 9th of October, 1989 became the day of decision for the democratic movement’s future.

This is why the 9th of October is not only an important historical date for Leipzig’s city government but, rather, it sees itself more so as obligated to continue to create an audience for the spread of democracy, nonviolence and critique as well.

• Program Booklet "Autumn ´89" (PDF 4,8 MB)
  
• Calender of events of the initiative group “Day of the Peaceful Revolution – Leipzig 9th October 1989”