2022-06-04 13:19:41
Open letter from the new Weimar Anti-Discrimination Office / Re: Attack on employees and customers at Café Spunk, Weimar / Destruction of a Pride flag 02.06.22
Dear Weimar Community,
We are writing to you today to first express our deep sadness, but also our anger, at the incidents of discrimination that continue to escalate in our city.
The sadness stems from the fact that we know this is not an isolated incident in Weimar. This is historical, enduring, and persistent. Power structures deeply rooted in a history of oppression, as well as everyday prejudice, bigotry and hatred, have directly and personally affected people in Weimar for far too long. People with migration histories, BIPOC, Jewish people, and LGBTQIA+ people continue to live in fear in a place with a strong civil society and a developed culture of memory. This is tragic, especially when the very systems and structures that are supposed to provide security and justice too often fail.
The anger stems from the fact that we know we've been here before. Throughout Germany, there have been rallies and protests against historical and current injustice in the wake of the attacks in Halle, Hanau, the NSU murders, and for social reform. Now this violence is escalating again on our streets, with another attack by a group of youths in broad daylight on a café in Weimar, possibly with far-right and queer-hostile motives. Groups of thugs roam freely through the city at night, spray-painting Jewish monuments, showing the (anti-constitutional) Hitler salute, insulting BIPOC students and trying to spread terror among citizens*. We assure you that local and national leaders will hear from us and that we will hold you accountable for any inaction on issues of discrimination, racial, religious and ethnic injustice.
We are a community that cannot ignore acts of racism, discrimination and violence. This cannot be accepted as "normal." We continue to demand equality and justice for people of all identities. We call on the city of Weimar to take a clear stance and confront the aggressors and aggressors in our midst, no matter who they are or where they stand. We call on the people of Weimar to hold themselves and each other accountable and to use all legitimate means to resist those who seek to divide us by race, class, gender, religion, or sexuality.
Sincerely yours,
Anti-Discrimination Office Weimar
Graben 13, 99423 Weimar
Tu/Th 10-13 (with appointment)
03634-8775684
beschwerdestelle.weimar@gmail.com
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