Rally on the "Platz der Sorge" in Freiburg

In a rally supported by many speakers, the "Platz für Sorge" alliance renamed the town hall square in the centre of the old town "Platz der Sorge" to mark International Women's Struggle Day. Similar actions took place in other cities at the same time. "Platz für Sorge" is a broad alliance of 45 initiatives in Freiburg. By local standards, this is a large number, which in its diversity encompasses various care areas and political spectrums. Many feminist and women's groups are involved, as are Care Revolution, the Critical Social Work Working Group, the Solidarity Healthcare Network and the Fair Care Initiative. The three groups that make up the "One City for All" municipal council group, the Left Party and the Green Youth are also involved. It is also important that groups involved in solidarity with refugees, such as Solidarity City and Aktion Bleiberecht, as well as Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion from the climate movement, are also taking part. However, initiatives such as the Netzwerk PflegeBegleitung (Care Support Network) or the Außerstationäre Krisenbegleitung (Out-of-hospital crisis support) are also part of this alliance. Initiatives that support each other with care tasks come together here with those that campaign for better framework conditions. As we had put together an extensive programme, we were glad that the day was cool but sunny. This meant that the 150-200 participants in the rally always found a cosy spot despite the required distance. At the beginning, we inaugurated the Platz der Sorge as part of an inauguration speech_Platz_fuer_Sorge_Freiburg, which presented the motives and the call_PfS_web of the alliance. This also included the unveiling of the square sign. Afterwards, a short performance demonstrated how care workers carry out their important work - largely invisible and hampered by unnecessary burdens. In the course of the performance, they freed themselves from invisibility and burdens and celebrated together with those they cared for; these were stuffed human-sized dolls in keeping with the coronavirus. The main part of the rally was then made up of contributions and discussion rounds in which people reported on their everyday care work and their striving for change. On the occasion of 8 March, we made sure that almost exclusively women spoke who also carry the majority of the care work: a single mother with three children, one of whom is physically disabled, described her everyday life. Trade union activists from the university hospital described the burdens and struggles of the staff. Participants in a self-help discussion group for carers described how they support each other in their difficult situation. A doctor presented the initiative for a neighbourhood health centre based on solidarity. Women from the "Kuckucksnest Birth Apartment" initiative described how they enable pregnant women to have a self-determined home birth even if their living conditions do not allow them to give birth in their own home. A trade union secretary called for a rally against Caritas, which is using its veto to prevent the establishment of a collective agreement that applies to all employees in geriatric care. And finally, students from Fridays for Future contributed a poetry slam. This was particularly important to us because we want to take care beyond simply looking after people. It also includes ensuring that the general conditions of human life are maintained. It is also important to us that groups of people such as refugees are not excluded from the rights that have been fought for in Germany. It was therefore fitting that Solidarity City Freiburg distributed a newsletter on the topic of "Space for Care".