wein.plus joins
 Alliance Against Right-Wing Extremism.

Europe's largest wine platform wein.plus has joined the Alliance Against Right-Wing Extremism in the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg.

The independent and non-partisan network currently includes 165 cities, municipalities, and districts, as well as 322 civil society organizations, institutions, and companies. It is Germany's largest regional alliance against right-wing extremism and racism from civil society and municipalities. wein.plus is based in Erlangen, which belongs to the Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg.

The network aims to decisively oppose all forms of group-related hostility - for example, racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Roma sentiment, Islamophobia, contempt for humanity, and anti-democratic tendencies. It does not matter what political, social, religious, national, or legal background the members have.

Strengthening Resistance Against Right-Wing Extremism

"With great concern and incomprehension, I observe the global development towards populism and increasingly right-wing extremist tendencies," explains wein.plus founder and managing director Utz Graafmann regarding his joining the alliance. "It frightens me that, especially in Germany, many people are voting for parties like the AfD again. Our country has dramatically shown what racism and anti-democratic efforts can lead to." The Alliance Against Right-Wing Extremism was founded on March 19, 2009, in Nuremberg at the initiative of the Human Rights Office of the city and the Citizens' Movement for Human Dignity in Middle Franconia e.V. / Ansbach City and District. The network aims to strengthen resistance against right-wing extremist activities and mobilize as many people as possible during current events.

"We should position ourselves clearly"

Thus, the actors promote an offensive public engagement with the topic of right-wing extremism, intensify collaboration between municipalities and civil society organizations, and support the exchange of experiences, information, and best-practice examples through conferences and a website. Furthermore, the participants organize and coordinate regional and supra-regional actions against right-wing extremism.

"I am convinced that wein.plus, as an international medium of the wine scene with a large reach in Europe, should position itself clearly on this issue," explains Utz Graafmann about his commitment. He hopes that more media and companies in the German wine industry will engage similarly.