"Places of the Peaceful Revolution" - Permanent Exhibition in Leipzig's City Spaces

	Markus Meckel, Foundation for the Study of the SED Dictatorship, Tobias Hollitzer, Committee of Citizens Leipzig e.V., governing mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung and Johann-Adolf Cohausz, spokesman of the Saxonian State Goverment (v.l.) opened the first pillar Photo: Stefan Nöbel-Heise

On the 9th of October, 2010, the Bürgerkomitee Leipzig e. V. (Committee of Citizens Leipzig e.V.) opened the "Places of the Peaceful Revolution" exhibition. It marks the most important points in Leipzig at which political resistance took place in 1989/1990 – from the demonstration for democracy at the marketplace on the occasion of the anniversary of Rosa Luxemburg’s and Karl Liebknecht’s deaths on the 15th of January, the street music festival in downtown Leipzig on the 10th of June and, of course, the Monday demonstration on the 9th of October and the occupation of the Leipzig National Security Headquarters – the “Round Corner” on the 4th of December.

This will help to keep history alive and present. Each location will contain information in both German and English as well as a historical photo allowing one to see the changes that have taken place there over the last 20 years. The pillars bring history to life directly there where the events took place and make it accessible to all. They are, on the one hand, meant to speak to the people of Leipzig and confront them with an important chapter of their city’s history. On the other hand, they are here to show and teach guests from all over Germany and abroad about the special role that these events in Leipzig had in the democratic turns of 1989 and the impulses that they gave for the entire country.

This project was made possible due to contributions provided by the City of Leipzig, the "Friedliche Revolution und Deutsche Einheit" funding program dedicated to the peaceful revolution and unity; the State of Saxony, the Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten - Foundation for Saxonian Memorial Places and the Foundation for the Study of the SED Dictatorship - the Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur.