First assessment: "No conclusion! - Jena and the NSU complex"

With the "Sound of the Stumbling Stones" on 9 November 2021, the extensive memorial and reappraisal program on the NSU complex came to an end under the programmatic heading "No End!". In more than 70 events in Jena over a period of more than six months with around 6,000 participants and culminating in the nationwide theater program on the NSU complex, it is now time for a first urban social balance.

Looking back - some highlights from the program

The site-specific theater action "438 Days. Theatrical Search for Traces of the NSU Trial in 17 Stages" as part of the Weimar Art Festival and the "Open Trial" exhibition at the Jena Art Collection. The artwork by Sebastian Jung, which was unveiled on the Day of German Unity in Winzerla, provided food for thought.

At the panel discussions "2x3: They came from here" on 20 October 2021, the (former) mayors of the city of Jena spoke about "the city and the NSU", while Rea Mauersberger, Dr. Gisela Horn and Michael Ebenau reported on "three decades of anti-fascist, anti-racist commitment" in the city.
At the central KomRex event on October 7, 2021 and "20 years of THÜRINGEN-MONITOR: Democracy and right-wing extremism research in the Free State", there was great interest both on site and digitally.

Finally, with the "MANIFEST(O)" performance, the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra made the voices of the victims of right-wing violence audible. This oratorio was performed for the last time in the sold-out Volkshaus on November 7, 2021.

In addition to Art & Culture:

victim and affected person perspectives were included (see in particular the events at the Stadtbücherei: October 1, 2021, "Behind the Curtain", (post-)migrant perspectives on culture and life in the GDR, concert by Thet à Thet // October 7, 2021, Die Farbe meiner Haut. East German experiences of upheaval from a non-white perspective: reading & discussion: ManuEla Ritz & Dr. Carsta Langner // October 16, 2021, discussion on the film: "Stadtgespräch: At Home in Jena")

In addition to science:

the broad expertise of journalists (e.g. the exhibition "Der Weg in den Untergrund" by Frank Döbert), full-time actors (e.g. the exhibition "END.TÄUSCHUNG - Rechtsextremismus.Irritation.Ausstieg" and the event "Baseballschlägerjahre" on October 25, 2021 by Drudel 11 e.V.) as well as voices from civil society initiatives were included (e.g. the event "Rechte Gewalt in Jena? Doesn't exist anymore!" on October 9, 2021 and "Asylum in Jena" on October 22, 2021)

Working group of civil society actors:

Statement in the run-up, observers and evaluation of the event series

Outlook - what remains and what will/can emerge?

What remains?

The Round Table for Democracy will continue to be a mouthpiece for various stakeholders

What is being created?

The process begun with the working group of civil society actors will be continued and intensified
Evaluation of "Kein Schlussstrich!" by the working group of civil society actors with the perspective of addressing recommendations to the round table, the city and the city council for the purpose of deepening and providing new impetus for anti-racist work and more diversity in Jena.
Results of the Weimar re-enactment "438 Days",
the film "KEIN SCHLUSSSTRICH - Das Gegennetzwerk",
the realization of MANIFEST(O) as a digital memorial by rooom AG,
the book "Rassismus.Macht.Vergessen" (transcript Verlag),
two city tours (by Antje Schupp and ThürAZ),
the exhibition "Der Weg in den 'Untergrund'" by Frank Döbert,
Film "At home in Jena",
Video documentary "It began here" by the Geschichtswerkstatt,
Days of Remembrance,
Renaming of the Damaschkeweg streetcar stop to "Enver-Şimşek-Platz",
next Botho Graef Art Prize,
on the way to a Nazi learning center (meeting place, new concept for Villa Rosenthal),
10-point plan against racism of the city of Jena,
Demand for an NSU documentation center.

Statements by the initiators of "NSU - Kein Schlussstrich! Jena"

Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Lord Mayor of the City of Jena

"The annual project "Kein Schlussstrich! Jena and the NSU complex" has for the first time brought an artistic, honest and multi-layered confrontation with the horrific acts of the NSU throughout Germany and here in Jena. Important food for thought was provided. Many questions remain unanswered and it must be our goal to keep the debate alive in the future so that what happened here does not happen again. As the city of Jena, we will strengthen our three-pronged strategy: In addition to investigative successes by the police, we need the commitment of civil society. And as a city, we will send out visible signals that we will not tolerate a climate of fear, intimidation and violence in our city. By this I mean publicly visible signs as well as non-public meetings and discussions with those affected, with the victims, so that they know that they will not be left alone and who they can turn to if necessary. The city of Jena's '10-point plan against racism' will play a central role in this. We must all take a stand against right-wing extremist and misanthropic acts! It is important to me that this debate is taken to the wider city society. The commitment of the citizens' initiatives is essential here, as they have played a decisive role in bringing the process of our internal debate within the city to this point"

Jonas Zipf, Plant Manager of JenaKultur

"The overwhelming response to our project shows how important it is to take the title of the project seriously and literally: NO FINAL STRIKE! In Jena in particular, understanding between civil society and urban political actors against racism and discrimination has only just begun. There are still reservations and defensive reflexes on all sides. Therefore, the conclusion can only be NO CLOSE STRIKE! under the research and processing of the NSU complex; NO CLOSE STRIKE! under the structural racism and blindness of our society and its institutions; NO CLOSE STRIKE! but above all under the dialog and cooperation of all those who stand up for our democracy and the dignity of every human being."

Dr. Gösta Gantner, Project Coordinator KEIN SCHLUSSSTRICH!

"Behind us lie moving and occasionally arduous months of reappraisal, debate and remembrance. Together with our partners and representatives of various civil society initiatives, we will now try to document key findings, results and weaknesses and make them fruitful for further urban social engagement with group-specific misanthropy, racism and anti-Semitism. KEIN SCHLUSSSTRICH also means taking away the strongest possible impulses for work in municipal administration, in political initiatives and in academic or artistic contexts: For a courageous majority, ultimately for a diverse society in which we can all live equally, respectfully and inclined towards one another without fear or exclusion."

Project page: http://www.kein-schlussstrich-jena.de(link is external)