Anyone who calls Alice Schwarzer these days experiences a woman in an inclined position: the more headwind she gets, the more she leans forward. This is how it has always been: contradiction does not make them meek, but incites them. And there is plenty of opposition to her rally "Uprising for Peace" at the weekend in Berlin, to which she called together with Sahra Wagenknecht.

Oliver Georgi

Editor in politics of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

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The fact that the emancipation icon Schwarzer is making common cause with Wagenknecht, of all people, who is regarded by many as an unteachable "Putin sympathizer", has already upset many. But they find it even more scandalous that both will probably make the same demands at the Brandenburg Gate as in their "Manifesto for Peace": an end to the "escalation" in arms deliveries to Ukraine, a de facto freezing of the front, negotiations with Putin as soon as possible, without talking about a Russian withdrawal.

This is a betrayal of Ukraine, critics say, just because one can no longer stand the fear for one's own life. Schwarzer says that anyone who is not afraid in this situation is "either stupid or cynical". Then she speaks of an "intimidation maneuver" and a "complete ignorance of reality" because they now want to forbid people to be afraid. Inclined position in headwind. Her critics are not fearless, but also afraid. Before the suffering, namely, that comes when Putin is allowed to do so.

The right-wing populists are already rejoicing

More than 600,000 people have now signed the manifesto, and Schwarzer also expects large crowds for the rally. She enthuses about a "veritable citizens' movement". But the breadth of this movement is now uncanny even for some of the 67 first signatories of the manifesto. They fear that the "uprising" in Berlin could become a publicity show for right-wing populists and right-wing radicals. The AfD chairman Tino Chrupalla, whose signature on the manifesto horrified many first signatories, and his co-chair Alice Weidel will not participate. Even the Thuringian right-wing extremist Björn Höcke does not plan to do so, according to F.A.S. information. Nevertheless, right-wing extremist groups have been mobilizing for the rally for weeks. Jürgen Elsässer, publisher of the conspiracy theory magazine "Compact", rejoiced in videos that the event was a "huge opportunity" for a "cross-front". "Patriotic national pacifists" should appear in Berlin by the thousands to "flood the rally with German flags," he demanded.

Initially, supporters of the "manifesto" had to ask themselves how to demand "peace" at almost any price and still believe that they are not betraying Ukraine. Now a question has been added: To what extent does it put righteous democrats in the twilight when right-wing radicals applaud and right-wing extremist banners wave at the Brandenburg Gate next to peace flags? Is it still possible to demonstrate with a pure heart?