Arsch huh, Zäng ussenander is the motto and name of a campaign againstright-wing violence inCologne, Germany. The colloquial slogan in the local dialectKölsch literally means "Ass up, teeth apart", encouraging people to not look away but to stand up, speak out and take action againstracism andinjustice.
On 9 November 1992, about100000 people gathered atChlodwigplatz [de] in Cologne following a call from artists from the Cologne music scene for a concert against racism andneo-nazism. This was preceded by a wave ofxenophobic attacks, such as theRostock-Lichtenhagen riots. "Wir […] wollen […] dazu beitragen, die weitverbreitete Sprachlosigkeit zu der Entwicklung in unserem Land zu beenden" (English: "We […] want to contribute to end the wide-spread speechlessness regarding the developments in our country"), the participating artists wrote in a pre-published statement for the major event. Despite far too lax security measures (nobody had expected the large number of participants), the rally took place without incident.
The title song was composed byNick Nikitakis [de] with lyrics contributed byWolfgang Niedecken. The participating artists also sung it at theHeute die – morgen du! [de] (English: "Them today – you tomorrow!") concert on 13 December 1992 in Frankfurt. It was selected for the annual GermanLiederbestenliste [de] in 1993.
At the same time, theAG Arsch huh was founded, which has since repeatedly supported projects and initiatives against right-wing activities. For example, it supported the exhibition "Zwangsweise Kölsch" in 2000, which dealt withforced labor in Cologne duringNazi rule.
Among the participating artists and speakers wereBAP,Kurt Bachmann,Jürgen Becker,Klaus Bednarz,Bläck Fööss,Viktor Böll [de],Brings,Rolly Brings [de], Charly T., EM:ZEH,Elke Heidenreich,Höhner,Jean Jülich [de],L.S.E. [de],Willy Millowitsch,Nick Nikitakis [de],Samy Orfgen [de],4 Reeves [de], Anke Schweitzer,The Piano Has Been Drinking [de], Triviatas – 1. Kölner Schwulenchor, Viva la Diva,Bernd Winterschladen [de] andZeltinger Band [de].
On 20 September 2008, a follow-up event was held sixteen years after the original "Arsch huh" concert under the revised motto "Köln stellt sich quer" at theDomplatte [de] in Cologne.
This movement formed as a reaction to attempts of the politically right partyPro Köln [de] to organize a gathering of European extreme-right groups in Cologne in a so-called "anti-islamization congress". TheState Office for the Protection of the Constitution inNRW classifies Pro Köln as an extreme-right group.
Tens of thousands of people came together in the center of the city for a demonstration to protestright-wing extremism and neo-Nazism. Thereby, the planned right-wing gathering could be preempted and eventually prevented from occurring.[1][2]
The 20th anniversary of the original event was held on 9 November 2012 in the form of another rally and concert forsocial justice.[3] The event took place at the "Deutzer Werft", a spare area betweenDeutzer Brücke andSeverinsbrücke [de] alongside the riverRhine. The number of visitors was in the75000s.
Participating artists and speakers were Özan Akhan,Athena,BAP,Dietmar Bär,Bläck Fööss,Brothers Keepers,Brings,Julius Brink,Chupacabras [de],Fatih Çevikkollu [de],Tommy Engel,Elke Heidenreich,Frank Hocker [de],Höhner, Hop-StopBanda,Kasalla [de],Carolin Kebekus,Klaus der Geiger [de],Köbes Underground [de],Gerd Köster [de],Helmut Krumminga [de],L.S.E. [de],Sonia Mikich,Mariele Millowitsch,Nick Nikitakis [de],Wolfgang Niedecken, Walter Pütz,Karl-Heinz Pütz [de],Jonas Reckermann,4 Reeves [de],Jürgen Roters,Peter Rüchel,Stephan Runge [de],Frank Schätzing,Wilfried Schmickler, Anke Schweitzer,Trovači [de], Viva la Diva,Claus Vinçon [de],Biggi Wanninger [de],Bernd Winterschladen [de],Ranga Yogeshwar,Zeltinger Band [de], twosign language translators and one hundred fifty "Trötemänner" (members ofcorps of drums).
