Every Saturday, Munich's “Omas gegen Rechts” defend democracy. With words, umbrellas, banners – and the firm conviction that democracy must remain visible. What happens when 15 elderly ladies meet the public in the pedestrian zone.
The grannies swarm out. Unmissable, very present. They move quickly through Munich's pedestrian zone on Saturday lunchtime. “Are you in favour of democracy too?” they shout, stretching their arms and holding out flyers. Many wave them off. No, no. Democracy will have to wait, first it's off to Pimkie or H&M.The mission of the “Omas gegen Rechts” (Grannies against the Right) is written on their banner, which is twice one metre fifty in size: “Shared responsibility for our democracy”. No exclamation marks, no shouting. Just about twenty women, no longer young, whose activist group has been gaining members for weeks. Why?
Marketing Measure
Susanne Schrüfer, 62, jumps on the underground in Munich's Moosach district, right hand on the white umbrella, which she will later place in front of the banner. “I come from a marketing background,” says Schrüfer, alert eyes, beige cardigan with a button on it: Heart instead of Hate. Always the same message, she says. Repetition is important, over and over again, until people realise: chocolate equals Milka. Marketing for democracy, in the midst of a growing culture war – on the other side, there are the conspircay theorists, right-wing populists, right-wing extremists.
Susanne Schrüfer – one of the grannies against the right (“Oma gegen Rechts”) | Photo (detail): © Daniel Hinz
10.55 a.m. With united forces, the democracy banner is now spread out like in the south curve of a football stadium.
In Search of Attitude
The 11 o'clock church bell ringing is like a sign. The hunt is on. Almost 20 grannies, ten metre radius. Mission: democracy. And it does indeed seem a bit missionary. Orangutan rescuers on the hunt for donations. Fundraising vibes. Except the grannies don't want money. They want attitude.A young woman in an FC Bayern jersey waves them off, she says she's Swiss. The granny mumbles: “You could use it over there too.”
A guy in a slouch hat and turtleneck gives a thumbs-up, but is intercepted eight metres further on by the next granny. Schrüfer remarks that you have to be better organised – speak to someone if they look interested, but never bother them. And certainly not if the person is already recognisable as an ally. 80 per cent of encounters are based on the thumbs-up principle.
Becoming a Granny
But how do you actually become a granny? You can't just become one. You don't have to be a biological grandma. You have to apply, says Schrüfer. Read the website, understand the values, make contact. Be against discrimination, in favour of the Basic Law, against climate change, for Europe. Against the right anyway, but not against the CDU and CSU, just to be clear. “We are non-partisan,” emphasises Schrüfer.
Courage – diversity – climate protection: this is what the “Omas Gegen Rechts” stand for | Photo (detail): © Daniel Hinz
If you want to be a member of the Munich group, you can't get past Sibylle Dietzel, 63. She works in a book publishing house, and in her spare time she is one of the trainers for prospective grannies. “Mass rush,” she says. Since the CDU/CSU's small enquiry into the funding of supposedly left-wing movements, the grannies have been like TikTok influencers after the first viral clip. They have been notorious since the 551 questions in February 2025 to the traffic light federal government made up of the SPD, FDP and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen about how NGOs – including the “Omas gegen rechts” – are financed. Susanne Schrüfer says that since then she has been approached more often during her vigils. And they are often older men. They then say they are “grandpas against the left”. Schrüfer says that in 90 per cent of cases, they don't want to talk to you. They just want to vent their frustration.
Full Waiting Lists
11:16 a.m. Two policemen arrive, show themselves friendly. Please clear the guiding strips on the ground. “We'll keep an eye on that,” says a granny. One encounter later, an unfriendly guy rushes past, shouting something about “funding” and “wanted nothing to do with it”. Schrüfer shakes her head. That's exactly what she's talking about. Discussing? Long since given up with someone like that. Susanne Schrüfer has also lost a few old friends to so called “Schwurbler” (conspircay theorists).The Munich grannies are organised on a decentralised basis and have nothing to do with the Berliners apart from names and attitudes. There is also an association, but nobody has to become a member. Donations yes, but without a receipt. They have had an exploding waiting list since January. It used to be one familiarisation walk per month. Now: It takes place every week. With up to 15 prospective grannies. Their lists are full until June. “We have a queue of 200 applicants.”
Every Saturday: vigil for democracy in Munich's pedestrian zone | Photo (detail): © Daniel Hinz
We are the grannies grannies grannies against the right / And those who run, brown bunch, through the country, with their boots on the right / But we love colourful skirts, don't need a brown Höcke / Come to us and fight against the right.
After that, swarming out again.
A young man in an “Eat a Priest, Save a Child” T-shirt shouts a loud “NO” to the question of democracy. An elderly gentleman feigns a heart attack, theatrically clutches his chest, then continues walking normally. A normal Saturday highlight for the grannies.
12 o'clock. The bells ring from St Mary's Church. The grannies pack up their banners and umbrellas. They'll be back next week. Then it continues.
May 2025