The storm had died down and the sun sent out a few rays.

But a cold wind made the participants of the commemoration event on the second anniversary of the attack on February 19, 2020 in Hanau's main cemetery shiver.

They wanted to give consolation to the bereaved, but only 100 people were allowed because of Corona.

As a result, many relatives and friends of the victims were excluded, which caused new anger.

At least some relatives were allowed to speak, but they were only allowed a few sentences.

They used this time to renew the criticism of the state authorities in dealing with the bereaved and the investigation of the attack.

uncomfortable words

The uncomfortable words seemed strange in the solemn setting of the graves and memorial stones.

At the same time, the lawsuits revealed that the previous speakers, such as Prime Minister Volker Bouffier and Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Feaser, had not gotten through to the grieving families with their empathetic words.

Because mistrust runs deep among many relatives.

At the commemoration, however, it also became clear that the displeasure is not directed against the city of Hanau and its mayor.

Anything else would also be unfair given the diverse commitments of the city and its citizens.

There are commemorative plaques at the crime scenes and the white graves of honor in the main cemetery.

A good idea was the digital memorial online with information about the murdered and a book of condolences.

Contact with the relatives of the victims is maintained intensively, for example when it comes to choosing a central memorial.

The actions of schools, churches and associations are also remarkable.

New impetus can also be expected from the city's "Centre for Democracy and Diversity", which is currently under construction.

The slogan "Hanau stands together", coined by the city, is not just an empty phrase, but embodies solidarity in the fight against racism.

The daily commitment of many is more important than the grand gestures on commemoration days.

Fortunately, Hanau has both.