Arsch huh, Zäng ussenander


Arsch huh, Zäng ussenander is the motto and name of a campaign against right-wing violence in Cologne, Germany. The colloquial slogan in the local dialect Kölsch literally means "Ass up, teeth apart!" encouraging people to not look away but to stand up, speak out and take action against racism and injustice.

History

9 November 1992

On the 9 November 1992, about people gathered at in Cologne following a call from artists from the Cologne music scene for a concert against racism and neo-nazism. This was preceded by a wave of attacks with xenophobic background, for example in the Rostock-Lichtenhagen riots. "Wir wollen dazu beitragen, die weitverbreitete Sprachlosigkeit zu der Entwicklung in unserem Land zu beenden", the participating artists wrote in a pre-published statement for the major event. Despite far too low security measures, the rally took place without incidents.
The title song was composed by with lyrics contributed by Wolfgang Niedecken. The participating artists also sung it at the concert on the 13 December 1992 in Frankfurt. It was selected for the annual German in 1993.
At the same time, the AG 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 with forced labor in Cologne during the Third Reich.
Among the participating artists and speakers were:
BAP,, Jürgen Becker, Klaus Bednarz, Bläck Fööss,, Brings,, Charly T., EM:ZEH, Elke Heidenreich, Höhner,,, Willy Millowitsch,,,, Anke Schweitzer,, Triviatas – 1. Kölner Schwulenchor, Viva la Diva, and.

20 September 2008

On the 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 the in Cologne.
This movement formed as a reaction to attempts of the politically-right party "" to organize a gathering of European extreme-right groups in Cologne in form of a so-called "anti-islamization congress". "Pro Köln" is classified as an extreme-right group by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in NRW.
Ten-thousands of people came together in the center of the city for a demonstration to protest against right-wing extremism and neo-nazism. Thereby, the planned right-wing gathering could be preempted and eventually prevented from occurring.

9 November 2012

The 20th anniversary of the original event was held on 9 November 2012 in form of another rally and concert for social justice. The event took place at the "Deutzer Werft", a spare area between Deutzer Brücke and alongside the river Rhine. The number of visitors was in the s.
Participating artists and speakers were:
, Monika Piel, , Jürgen Roters, Tommy Engel
Özan Akhan, Athena, BAP, Dietmar Bär, Bläck Fööss, Brothers Keepers, Brings, Julius Brink,,, Tommy Engel, Elke Heidenreich,, Höhner, Hop-StopBanda,, Carolin Kebekus,,,,,, Sonia Mikich,,, Wolfgang Niedecken, Walter Pütz,, Jonas Reckermann,, Jürgen Roters, Peter Rüchel,, Frank Schätzing, Wilfried Schmickler, Anke Schweitzer,, Viva la Diva,,,, Ranga Yogeshwar,, two sign language translators and hundred-fifty "Trötemänner".

Albums