Jena, 13.05.2026. Despite continuous rain and uncomfortable temperatures, around 200 people gathered in Jena last Tuesday for a special protest action. With a so-called „LiegendDemo“ (lying-down protest), they drew attention to the fate of ME/CFS patients – a disease that still stands heavily in the shadows of public perception.
- What: „LiegendDemo“ to raise awareness about the disease ME/CFS
- When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- Participants: Around 200 people
- Goal: To create visibility for hundreds of thousands of mostly unrecognized sufferers in Germany
Fight for Social Recognition
The action aimed to break through the literal invisibility of many patients. Although there are hundreds of thousands of affected individuals in Germany alone, the clinical picture hardly features in public discourse. Lying down during the demonstration holds high symbolic power: it reflects the often bedridden state in which many severely ill people find themselves day in and day out. The fact that the demonstration participants braved the adverse weather underscored the urgency of their cause.
Background: What is ME/CFS?
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex neuroimmunological disease. A central symptom is so-called Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) – a disproportionate and often long-lasting worsening of the general condition even after minimal physical or mental exertion.
In Germany, it is estimated that about 250,000 to 300,000 people are affected, including many children and adolescents. The disease can lead to a high degree of physical disability, so that many patients can no longer leave the house or require nursing care. Since there are currently no approved causative medications and the disease is often insufficiently covered in medical studies, it often takes years for those affected to receive a correct diagnosis.
Source:
Invisible Illness – LiegendDemo draws attention to ME/CFS
Transparency Note: This article was automatically created, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.