DistantNews
Support us
Berlin pool event for Black youth canceled amid racism accusations and threats
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Berlin pool event for Black youth canceled amid racism accusations and threats

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • An outdoor swimming pool event in Berlin, exclusively for Black children and youth, was canceled due to accusations of racism and threats.
  • The event, organized by the "Each One Teach One" association in collaboration with the Volksbühne theater, aimed to create a safe space for the Black community.
  • Political figures, including from the CDU and AfD parties, criticized the event as discriminatory, with one calling it "apartheid."

An outdoor swimming pool event in Berlin, intended to provide exclusive access for Black children and youth, has been canceled following a wave of criticism, accusations of racism, and threats against organizers. The event, held at a temporary pool near the Volksbühne theater, was a collaboration between the theater and the "Each One Teach One" association, which focuses on the Black community in the city and works against racism.

I am not allowed to go to the outdoor pool because I am white. It's absurd.

— Aileen WeibelerA CDU politician expressing her view on the event's exclusivity.

The decision to restrict access to only Black participants sparked a heated debate on social media and among local politicians. Christian Democrat (CDU) politician Aileen Weibeler expressed feeling discriminated against, questioning the need for a "safe space" at a public swimming pool. Leaders from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party went further, labeling the initiative as "apartheid," referencing South Africa's former system of racial segregation.

Why do we need a 'safe space' at an outdoor pool where everyone can go swimming?

— Aileen WeibelerQuestioning the necessity of the segregated event.

Organizers from the Volksbühne defended the event, stating their intention was to support "structurally disadvantaged" groups and comply with Berlin's anti-discrimination laws by providing a space free from discrimination for those who experience it. However, the backlash included not only strong criticism but also a flood of violent and racist threats directed at the organizers, according to public broadcaster Deutschland Funk.

apartheid

— Alice WeidelLeader of the far-right AfD party, criticizing the event.

Citing safety concerns for the children and youth involved, the organizers announced the cancellation on Friday. The controversy unfolds just weeks before state elections in Berlin scheduled for September. The temporary outdoor pool, known as Volksbad, had previously drawn debate over its construction costs, which amounted to over three million Swedish kronor in taxpayer money.

We are just trying to comply with Berlin's law against discrimination, which stipulates that there must be a place for groups that are subjected to discrimination – where they can move freely from discrimination.

— Matthias LilienthalThe intendant of Volksbühne defending the event's purpose.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog