--- title: Neues Forum Leipzig, "Aufruf des Neuen Forum" (12 October 1989) url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/neues-forum-leipzig-aufruf-1989/ description: A typewritten, duplicated sheet headed 'Neues Forum / Aufruf des NEUEN FORUM', Leipzig, 12.10.1989, with six numbered demands to the state, the churches… section: Collection --- [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) [![Neues Forum Leipzig, "Aufruf des Neuen Forum" (12 October 1989)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/neues-forum-leipzig-aufruf-1989.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/neues-forum-leipzig-aufruf-1989.jpg) # Neues Forum Leipzig, "Aufruf des Neuen Forum" (12 October 1989) A typewritten, duplicated sheet headed 'Neues Forum / Aufruf des NEUEN FORUM', Leipzig, 12.10.1989, with six numbered demands to the state, the churches, the parties and the public: open dialogue, open media, non-violence, release of detainees, publication of earlier appeals, and an answer by 15 October. The opening sentence rests the appeal's legitimacy on 'the large number of declarations of sympathy' and 'thousands of calls' for the group's recognition, which is the bandwagon tell: claimed popularity offered as the warrant for the demands. ## Text on the object Original (German) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` NEUES FORUM Leipzig, den 12.10.1989 Aufruf des NEUEN FORUM Ermutigt durch die große Zahl von Sympathieerklärungen aus allen Teilen der Bevölkerung, legitimiert durch die tausendfachen Rufe nach Zulassung des Neuen Forums und aus tiefer Sorge um die weitere Entwicklung unseres Landes wiederholen wir heute: 1. Wir fordern sofort, jetzt und hier, den öffentlichen, gleichberechtigten Dialog mit allen - mit Vertretern des Staates, der Kirchen, der Parteien, Organisationen und basisdemokratischen Gruppen. 2. Wir fordern eine Öffnung der Medien und eine wahrheitsgemäße Berichterstattung. 3. Wir rufen wiederum und eindringlich zur Gewaltlosigkeit aller Seiten auf. Wir distanzieren uns in aller Eindeutigkeit von rechtsradikalen ebenso wie von antikommunistischen Tendenzen. Wir fordern zugleich: Keine Kriminalisierung der Demonstranten und Andersdenkenden, denn das schürt Gewalt. 4. Wir fordern eine umfassende Information über die in den letzten Wochen Inhaftierten, über die Zahl und die Haftgründe. Unerläßlich ist die sofortige Freilassung der Inhaftierten, die sich gewaltfrei an Demonstrationen beteiligt haben. 5. Als ersten vertrauensbildenden Schritt zur Eröffnung des Dialogs schlagen wir vor, umgehend zu veröffentlichen - den Gründungsaufruf des Neuen Forums und - die Aufrufe des Neuen Forums vom 04. und 12.10.1989 6. Wegen der nichtkalkulierbaren Risiken der spontanen Massendemonstrationen montags in Leipzig erwarten wir bald, aber bis spätestens zum 15. Oktober Antwort der dialogbereiten Kräfte. Wir sind bereit ! Neues Forum, Sprechergruppe Leipzig: Michael Arnold Petra Lux Edgar Dusdar Jochen Läßig Dirk Grötsch Martin Kind ``` English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader) ``` NEW FORUM Leipzig, 12.10.1989 Appeal of the NEW FORUM Encouraged by the large number of declarations of sympathy from all parts of the population, legitimised by the thousandfold calls for the admission of the New Forum, and out of deep concern about the further development of our country, we repeat today: 1. We demand immediately, now and here, public dialogue on equal terms with everyone - with representatives of the state, the churches, the parties, organisations and grassroots-democratic groups. 2. We demand an opening of the media and truthful reporting. 3. We call once more and urgently for non-violence on all sides. We distance ourselves in all clarity from right-radical as well as from anti-communist tendencies. We demand at the same time: no criminalisation of demonstrators and dissenters, for that stirs up violence. 4. We demand comprehensive information about those detained in recent weeks, about their number and the grounds for detention. The immediate release of those detained who took part in demonstrations without violence is essential. 5. As a first confidence-building step towards opening the dialogue we propose to publish without delay - the founding appeal of the New Forum and - the appeals of the New Forum of 4 and 12 October 1989 6. Because of the incalculable risks of the spontaneous mass demonstrations on Mondays in Leipzig, we expect soon, but by 15 October at the latest, an answer from the forces willing to talk. We are ready! New Forum, Speakers' group Leipzig: Michael Arnold Petra Lux Edgar Dusdar Jochen Läßig Dirk Grötsch Martin Kind ``` Read from the committed image. Typewriter type; the sixth speaker line and the spelling 'Dusdar' are as printed (the Commons description gives 'Dusdal' and notes that the scan misspells it). Spacing of the header line approximated. [← East Berlin radio and television on the October 1989 demonstrations ('Black Channel'), FBIS Daily Report, 11 October 1989](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/east-berlin-radio-tv-schnitzler-black-channel-1989/) ['Generální stávka 27. 11. = první svobodné volby': student-printed strike poster, November 1989 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/generalni-stavka-27-11-poster-1989/) ## Using the same techniques - [Consult of the doctors on the grave illness of the Grand Sultan (Consult vande medicijnen inde swaere siekte vanden grooten Sultaen)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/consult-of-the-doctors-sick-sultan-antwerp-1683/) (Spanish Netherlands · 1683 · Transfer, Bandwagon) - ["Jackson ticket" with Hickory tree motto, Baltimore (1828)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jackson-ticket-hickory-tree-1828/) (United States · 1828 · Bandwagon, Transfer) - [Democratic tickets, "Go it, ye Cripples!" and "Stop Van!!!" (Ohio electors, Van Buren and Johnson), 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/democratic-ticket-stop-van-van-buren-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Name-calling, Bandwagon) - [Democratic ticket, "Going the whole hog" (Ohio electors for Van Buren and Johnson), 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/democratic-ticket-whole-hog-van-buren-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Bandwagon) - ["Political race course - Union Track - fall races 1836"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/political-race-course-union-track-harrison-1836/) (United States · 1836 · Bandwagon, Name-calling). Content note: Partisan caricature of named politicians that uses the epithet 'Black Dan' for Daniel Webster and regional stereotypes in the speech balloons. - ["Grand match between the Kinderhook poney and the Ohio ploughman", April 1836](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/grand-match-kinderhook-poney-ohio-ploughman-harrison-1836/) (United States · Apr 1836 · Transfer, Bandwagon) - ['The People's Line -- Take care of the Locomotive', Whig woodcut, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-line-take-care-of-the-locomotive-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Bandwagon) - ['The Fox Chace', Whig cartoon of Van Buren hunted by cider-barrel hounds, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/the-fox-chace-van-buren-harrison-childs-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Name-calling, Bandwagon)