The Group for Reflection and Intervention of the Portuguese Diaspora in Germany (Gri-Dpa) celebrates in Frankfurt the “Festival of Freedom – Defense of Democracy”, emphasizing that “many Germans are interested in the April 25 revolution.” .
The initiative is taking place in the German city of Frankfurt for the third year in a row, but this time, “due to the importance of the 50th anniversary celebrations”, the celebrations will be organized alone by Gri-Dpa, and not jointly with the Italian Community, as in previous times.
“April 25 is something extraordinary, as a revolution and as a driving force for other revolutions,” stressed Luse Alfredo Stoffel, president of the association organizing the festival, which will take place on April 27.
Musical moments, lectures, performances and exhibitions are planned in collaboration with the Association on April 25. One of the items on the agenda was songs and poems by students of the Frankfurt European School.
“This is the initiative of someone from outside who came to us and asked to participate with their students. We also have a professor from the University of Chemnitz who will talk about the democratic system and the challenges of the future. Manuel Campos (Vice President) of the group Gri-Dpa) will give us a musical moment with songs of April and freedom,” he detailed.
The mayor of the Frankfurt City Council and the city choir Heinrich-Heine are also expected to attend. The hall seats 200 people and organizers expect that both Germans and Portuguese “neither have priority”.
“There are many Germans who were interested in our revolution, who were in Portugal when it happened and who continue to be interested in it,” said the president of the Group for Reflection and Intervention of the Portuguese Diaspora in Germany.
Alfredo Stoffel was “13 years and 364 days old” when the Carnation Revolution broke out. At that time he was still living in Portugal and remembers that day well.
“April 25 had a huge impact on my development. I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t experienced those moments when I was a child. This caused our humanistic and social positions to have a different weight than people who did not live through that time,” he emphasized.
He regrets that for many young people it is just “a historical date that you learn about from books” and a holiday on the calendar.
“If young people knew about this historic date of freedom, we would not have far-right parties enjoying so much support,” he stressed.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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