Van der Bellen: – “Jewish life belongs to Austria”

“We must confront hatred of Jews and anti-Semitism with zero tolerance. Decided. Every day. Everywhere,” Van der Bellen said in his speech. Behind the statistics on anti-Semitic attacks are people being shamed, insulted and, in the worst cases, physically attacked. “Jewish life belongs to Austria and especially Jewish life belongs to our common home Vienna.”

Law and justice – the focus of this year’s celebration – were often no longer related during National Socialism, the Federal President said. For example, the so-called racial laws or regulations of Nuremberg were appropriate legislation that prohibited Jews from sitting on park benches. “Law alone does not protect against injustice.” It is important to stand up for the values ​​of liberal democracy or equal opportunities for all.

Contemporary witness: ‘That it won’t happen again’
The highlight of the celebration was the speech by contemporary Rosa Schneeberger of the Sinti ethnic group. In 1941, at the age of five, she was arrested together with her mother and siblings and deported to the so-called ‘gypsy prison camp’ in Lackenbach. Her grandfather was buried there in a mass grave.

After deportations to Dachau, Buchenwald and Mauthausen, Rosa Schneeberger’s father was eventually taken to Lackenbach because the guards there were looking for musicians to entertain him. He also managed to ensure that his family – unlike so many relatives in the camp – was not murdered. The camp was finally liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.

Only recently did Rosa Schneeberger share her experiences of these four years as a contemporary witness, even though it is a great burden, the 88-year-old said – “for young people to hear this, for it not to happen anymore.” The Festival of Joy was first celebrated in 2013, in response to the Vienna Corporation Ring’s controversial ‘Remembrance Day’.