Berlin Stories

Shift Lab Summer Art Laboratory Performance Event

On Friday, 18 July, Shift Lab Berlin is hosting a special summer art laboratory performance event, “Gathering in Resistance”, in collaboration with ASNAM. SHIFT is a community-oriented art platform that merges club culture and performance, while ASNAM is an initiative founded to dismantle barriers within the music industry. At 17:00, the Garden of Gatherings opens with crafts and soli market stalls, workshops, tattoos, and food. From 20:00, performances will take place on the indoor stage at OHM, featuring artists such as ENANA, Sami, and LUNA LIAS.

**Pride Weekend: IQP, Community Dyke* March, Kiki Ball**

Next weekend, several Pride events will take place in Berlin. In addition to the large commercial CSD demonstration on Saturday, 27 July, which starts at 12:00 from Leipziger Straße, there will also be the alternative Internationalist Queer Pride (IQP). This non-commercial event focuses on intersectional solidarity with global struggles against oppression and advocates for liberation and decolonisation. The IQP begins at 15:00 at Südstern.

Ahead of the Pride marches, Friday, 25 July is Dyke March Day. This year, the protest uplifting anyone who identifies with the label dyke, was cancelled by the organiser team. However, a community initiative has stepped in to make it happen. The Community Dyke* March takes place on 25 July at 16:00, with the meeting point at Oranienplatz. If you would like to support the initiative, stop by the solidarity event at Stagger Lee hosted by the Ivy Project Berlin on 20 July at 19:00. The proceeds will go toward the new Community Dyke* March. Also on 26 July, after the IQP, the “Colors of Pride” Kiki Ball will take place at Social Hub Berlin. Hosted by German Mother Gina Angels and Papi 007, the ball honors the roots of ballroom culture, trans people, and especially trans femmes. It starts at 15:00 and you can get your tickets here.

“War Against War” Soli Event by Migrantifa and Global South United

Migrantifa, Global South United, and Guerre à la Guerre are teaming up to host a solidarity event, “War Against War”. It takes place on 20 July from 13:00 at BUM. There will be a solidarity market with booths by several activist organisations mobilising against genocide, a panel discussion on “internationalist perspectives on warmongering” with Stop Arming Israel German and the Resist NATO Campaign (14:00-16:00), and a closing screening of “We Are the battlefields” by Mathieu Rigouste. Food will be provided by Food for Palestine. Come by to discuss, learn, exchange, and support local political organising.

Palestine Fundraiser Market and Music 4 Palestine

On 27 July, Palestine Speaks and other activist organisations in solidarity with Palestine are inviting to a fundraiser for Social Media Club Palestine, a grassroots organisation working with Gazan children. From 12:00 to 18:00 at Biergarten Jockel, there will be solidarity merchandise, food, drinks and workshops like a Dabke lesson, Palestinian music and a backgammon match. On the same day, BUM is hosting a fundraiser event for Palestine as well: Music 4 Palestine. This event supports grassroots organisations across Palestine and runs from 15:00 to 00:00. Expect performances, workshops, DJ Sets, poetry, panel talks, art exhibitions and much more. Entry is donation-based, with a suggested sliding scale from 10-20€.

13 Years Revolution in Rojava Demonstration

This Saturday, 19 July, marks the 13th anniversary of the revolution in Rojava. The Kurdish autonomous region in northern Syria was established after years of resistance against occupation, marginalisation, and discrimination against the Kurdish people. On 19 July 2012, the revolutionary project of Rojava began in the city of Kobanê, aiming to build alternative societal structures in opposition to oppressive regimes. To this day, Rojava continues to face attacks by the Turkish military and other forces. Join us at the demonstration at Oranienplatz on 19 July to celebrate the resistance and revolution in Rojava. The protest begins at 18:00. Bîjî berxwedana Rojava!

OEZ Erinnern Memorial and Demonstration

On 22 July, a memorial and demonstration will take place in remembrance of the nine victims of the far-right and racist attack at the OEZ shopping centre in Munich in 2016. The initiative München OEZ Erinnern has been fighting to raise awareness of the murders and continues to demand justice for the survivors. To this day, as in so many cases of right-wing violence, the state has failed to provide adequate support and accountability. We remember: Armela Segashi, Can Leyla, Dijamant Zabërgja, Guiliano Kollmann, Hüseyin Dayıcık, Roberto Rafael, Sabine Sulaj, Selçuk Kılıç und Sevda Dağ. The memorial event will take place at Oranienplatz from 17:00 to 19:30.

Twirl Recordings Pride Takeover at Oona

On 24 July, Oona Bar is hosting a special CSD takeover by TWIRL Recordings. They will accompany the evening with music by artists on their label like Shaun J. Wright, Alika, DJ Holographic, and Kiddy Smile. Join us from 19:00-22:00 for a drink at the bar or tune in online.

SWANA Healing Residency

OYOUN is teaming up with SWANA Healing for a Radical Rest Residency in Marrakech, Morocco. The retreat is open to all FLINTA* BiPoC artists and cultural workers in Germany and is especially aimed at those who have been affected by the repression around Palestinian solidarity. Designed as a week-long sanctuary for rest, the residency is not about productivity, but about collective care and refusal to conform to capitalist structures. In the face of increasing repression and systemic violence in Germany and beyond, rest and recovery are acts of resistance. The SWANA Healing Residency is fully funded, covering travel, accommodation, meals, facilitation, and includes an honorarium of 500€. Applications are open until 20 July.

Leave No One Behind needs support

The activist organisation Leave No One Behind is in urgent need of support. In the past five years, Leave No One Behind has been supporting people on the move, documenting human rights violations and the European border, aiding rescue missions at sea, evacuations, and providing medical and legal support to refugees. In the current climate of austerity and budget cuts, Leave NO One Behind is now more than ever in need of donations to keep operating. The organisation has released a statement outlining its financial struggles. You can read it here, and please consider donating to help sustain their crucial work.