This year, discourses about racist police brutality reached the German mainstream media cycle. However, political groups with a focus on anti-racist activism have been working on this topic for years – a debate, that the majority was not ready for and, for the most part, still isn’t.
Nonetheless, what is happening to BIPoCs, (post-) migrant and racialized people in Germany? Why did the anti-racist movement Black Lives Matter (BLM) only become a headline in newspapers after the murder of the Black US-American George Floyd; and why is it so easy to point fingers at the racism problem of the USA, while local power dynamics are being ignored?
At the SMU we want to explore these question and will be doing so by inviting groups and campaigns, who are politically active with regard to racism, the police as an institution and white supremacy. On board we have:
– KOP. Connects the victims of racially motivated police brutality with counselling services, lawyers, psychologists and inform eyewitnesses about possible resistance.
– The Roma Antidiscrimination Network. Sheds light on the societal rejection of Sinti and Roma people, as well as the hostility and violence against them. They offer help for everyone concerned at schools, authority offices, at work or their living situation, healthcare and other spaces.
– Death in Custody. Does research on all cases of death of Black people and People of Color in custody of the police or other governmental institutions. They also document and publish these cases.
– EOTO (Each One Teach One). A community-based education and empowerment project, that advocates for the interests of Black, African and Afro-Diasporic people; organizes German-wide networks and regular counselling hours and cultural events, such as the Afrolution Festival.
In a Live-Stream on the Facebook Channel of Schwule Museum, we want to find uncomfortable answers for uncomfortable question on German problems. The event will be in German language. Tune in and take part in our online comment section!
Collage from “From Riot to Respectability”, Image: Paul Sleev