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Flag Day of the “Mayors for Peace” on July 8, 2025 at Luisenplatz – No joint rally with the Peace Forum
To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the city of Darmstadt will once again participate in the international Flag Day of the Mayors for Peace The network's flag and the "No-No-Nyet" flag will be raised in Luisenplatz – as a symbol for a nuclear-weapon-free and peaceful world.
Mayor Hanno Benz emphasizes the significance of this symbol:
“Eighty years ago, the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced the indescribable horror of the atomic bombings. The survivors, the Hibakusha, have been a powerful reminder to us ever since. Especially today – in light of increasing global tensions and a new nuclear arms race – this commemoration is more important than ever. Nuclear weapons do not create security, but rather endanger all of humanity.”
The city of Darmstadt is raising the flags as a visible symbol against nuclear armament and war, and in support of peaceful coexistence worldwide. The city of science has been a member of the international network since 1998, which today comprises over 8,480 cities from 166 countries – including around 900 municipalities from Germany.
No joint rally with the Peace Forum
Unlike previous years, there will be no joint rally with the "Darmstadt Peace Forum" in 2025. According to the city, the reason for this is that the Peace Forum belongs to the so-called Darmstadt Peace Alliance, which has recently attracted attention for statements with antisemitic tendencies. A clear distancing from the group has so far been lacking, explains Mayor Benz.
Background: Mayors for Peace
Mayors for Peace initiative was founded in 1982 by the then-mayor of Hiroshima, Takeshi Araki. It advocates for nuclear disarmament and a global peace order. The annual Flag Day is commemorated by an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on July 8, 1996, which classifies the use and threat of nuclear weapons as a violation of international law.
Further information can be found at: www.mayorsforpeace.de
(Darmstadt - Red/PSD/HO)
