A delegation of students and alumni travelled to Dresden to deliver messages of support to the politician, following a recent attack.
On 15 May, a delegation of Hertie School students and alumni travelled from Berlin to Dresden to meet with Hertie alum Matthias Ecke (EMPA 2021) and deliver messages of support from the Hertie community.
Earlier this month, Matthias suffered a violent attack by a group of four individuals while putting up election posters in Dresden for his candidacy in the upcoming European elections. Hertie School President Cornelia Woll stated in a message to the Hertie community that the assault on Matthias strikes at the heart of our democratic principles and values.
The delegation included Berlin Alumni Chapter Lead Torben Frank (EMPA 2018) and student representatives Catherine Kennon (MPP 2024) and Kathrin Gretener (MPP 2024). They had the opportunity to speak with Matthias and deliver a printout of the supportive messages that students and alumni had posted on a dedicated virtual message board.
“Our visit was also an opportunity to hear directly from Matthias about his experiences campaigning in a currently heated and increasingly aggressive political climate,” said Torben Frank. “His firsthand account serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of civil discourse and active participation in this democratic process.”
The Hertie community remains steadfast in its support for Matthias and is committed to upholding the democratic values that define our institution.