With a rally at Karlsplatz Square in Stuttgart, the "Long March 2021" successfully concluded the first seven of a total of nine days of action for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. Although the police restricted the rally from the beginning with a massive deployment of forces, the program planned for the day could eventually take place.

In speeches, participants from Catalonia and Spain described what motivated them to take on the long journey to Germany in these difficult times. "Abdullah Öcalan with his political philosophy has long since ceased to be just a mastermind for people in the Middle East. For in Catalonia, too, his thoughts are the cause of many discussions and an impetus for political processes," said Jana, a Catalan activist. She concluded her speech by saying that Abdullah Öcalan has long since ceased to be just the pioneer of Kurdish society but is a role model for all democratically minded people worldwide.

The Kurdish youth movement Tevgera Ciwanên Şoreşger called in a speech for Öcalan not simply to be seen as an independently isolated person, but as a political activist whose situation is closely linked to the isolation of society. The invasion of the Gare guerrilla area in southern Kurdistan launched by Turkey on Wednesday was also addressed in this context. It is the same policy, said a spokeswoman: "Just as since yesterday morning the guerrillas in the mountains are giving a response to the invasion attacks, the long march is our response to this policy of the Turkish state."

In a speech, a representative of AvEG-Kon pointed to the Berlin visit of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar last week. Despite prevailing contradictions, he said, the US and EU always agree with Turkey when it comes to crushing the Kurdish liberation movement.

The ‘Open Meeting against War and Militarism’ also took part in the rally and condemned the militaristic mentality of the Turkish state. In addition to Kurdish songs and several dance performances, there was another cultural contribution today. A participant of the action week read out a self-written poem, which was about resistance and revenge.

In the run-up to the rally, a group including Kurdish politician Yüksel Koç observed a hearing in the trial of four Kurds and a Kurdish woman in Stuttgart-Stammheim.

Demonstrations are planned for the next and last two days. "Especially on the last day, the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan should be demanded once again explicitly in the form of cultural contributions," announced the preparatory committee.