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29. September 2026

Park Bench Against Discrimination

A special park bench now stands on the Yilmaz-Atalay Embankment in Mainz’s Zollhafen district: Bearing the inscription “No Room for Discrimination,” it stands as a symbol of diversity and respectful coexistence. Mayor Nino Haase dedicated the bench together with numerous members of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness.

The park bench stems from the city council resolution “Colorful Benches, Strong Message,” which proposed making symbols of tolerance and diversity visible in Mainz’s cityscape. As a member of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness, Mayor Nino Haase dedicated the bench. The words “No Room for Discrimination!” are clearly engraved on the right half of the backrest. The seat in front of it is missing. 

The Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness was founded by about twenty Mainz residents active in public life on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2019.

“Yilmaz Atalay, after whom the riverbank is named, was a pioneer in Mainz’s integration efforts, and his legacy—such as the Intercultural Festival—is still deeply rooted in our state capital. That’s why the riverbank is a fitting place to take a stand against exclusion,” said Haase. 

Several members of the Alliance for Open-Mindedness were represented at the dedication ceremony, including the chair of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration, Sima Hosseini; the activist and recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit, Behrouz Asadi; Gülsum Günay from Bildungsforum Mainz e.V.; and the Head of CSR and Sustainability at 1. FSV Mainz 05, Ciara Widmann.

mainzer-allianz-fuer-weltoffenheit.de (opens in a new tab)
On the bench along the Rhine at Yilmaz-Atalay Embankment: (from left to right) Sima Hosseini, Chair of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration of the State Capital of Mainz; Dr. Gülsüm Günay, Bildungsforum Mainz e.V.; Ciara Widmann, Head of CSR and Sustainability at 1. FSV Mainz 05; Behrouz Asadi, activist and recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit; Nino Haase, Mayor of Mainz
On the bench along the banks of the Rhine at Yilmaz-Atalay-Ufer: (from left to right) Sima Hosseini, Chair of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration of the State Capital of Mainz; Dr. Gülsüm Günay, Bildungsforum Mainz e.V. and co-founder of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness; Ciara Widmann, Head of CSR and Sustainability at 1. FSV Mainz 05—the club is also a member of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness; Behrouz Asadi, Director of the Migration Office of the Malteser Werke for Rhineland-Palatinate/Hesse and co-founder of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness; Nino Haase, Mayor of the State Capital of Mainz
A park bench against discrimination, installed by the Alliance for Open-Mindedness and the state capital of Mainz on the banks of the Zollhafen. In the background, an old crane and residential buildings.
A park bench against discrimination, installed by the Alliance for Open-Mindedness and the state capital of Mainz on the banks of the Zollhafen. In the background, an old crane and residential buildings.
Standing behind the bench bearing the inscriptions “Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness,” “State Capital Mainz,” and “No Place for Discrimination” are (from left to right) Carlos Wittmer, Integration Commissioner for the State Capital of Mainz; Behrouz Asadi, activist and recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit; Nino Haase, Mayor of Mainz; Dr. Gülsüm Günay, Bildungsforum Mainz e.V.; Sima Hosseini, Chair of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration of the State Capital of Mainz; Ciara Widmann, Head of CSR and Sustainability at 1. FSV Mainz 05
Behind the "Bank Against Discrimination": (from left to right) Carlos Wittmer, Integration Officer for the state capital; Behrouz Asadi, Director of the Migration Office of the Malteser Werke for Rhineland-Palatinate/Hesse and co-founder of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness; Nino Haase, Mayor of the State Capital of Mainz; Dr. Gülsüm Günay, Bildungsforum Mainz e.V. and co-founder of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness; Sima Hosseini, Chair of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration of the State Capital of Mainz; Ciara Widmann, Head of CSR and Sustainability at 1. FSV Mainz 05; the club is also a member of the Mainz Alliance for Open-Mindedness.
A bench with the words "No Room for Discrimination" on the backrest. The seat is missing in that spot in front of it.

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