In August/September 2018, there were massive protests and racist riots by right-wing and right-wing populist groups in Chemnitz following a homicide. People with a supposed migration background were physically attacked, racially insulted and chased through the streets. The city became the focus of (inter)national media attention overnight. Up to 6,000 participants from Chemnitz, the surrounding area and the whole of Germany travelled to the marches organised by right-wing activists. They marked a public alliance between the AfD and neo-Nazis.
We would like to take a critical look at this event, which has had a significant impact on the city's recent history, with the open discussion format "Fishbowl". We will discuss the causes, the city's handling of the event and the role of the police and media. In dialogue with the audience, we want to gather experiences and effects, but also take a look at civil society reactions. With reference to the European Capital of Culture 2025, we will ask: What has happened in Chemnitz since then?
In a fishbowl, the experts will provide the content framework with their expertise, while the moderator encourages interested participants to contribute with their different voices and thus continuously continue the discourse.
Guests:
Julia Voigt is involved in #wirsindmehr, an initiative against right-wing extremism and for an open society, which responded to the mobilisations of violence with a highly acclaimed public concert
Prof. Dr. Frank Asbrock TU Chemnitz, social psychologist, researches prejudice and discrimination and, in his study "The situation in Chemnitz - moods after August 2018", investigated how the events in late summer 2018 affected the feeling of safety, threat and contact behaviour of people in Chemnitz
Dr Kati Lang Lawyer, represents and supports victims of right-wing and discriminatory violence, especially those affected by the racist mobilisations of that time