Berlin Stories | 20 February

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German Elections take place this weekend

On Sunday, 23 February, elections will be held in Germany. If you haven’t voted via postal ballot yet and are eligible to vote in Germany, make sure to cast your vote in your respective district on Sunday. You can find more information here. The elections follow the rupture in government after the dissolution of the Ampel-coalition in November 2024. With the far-right AfD and the conservative CDU on the rise, it is essential to make use of your vote  in support of democracy, justice and human rights.

5 years after Hanau 

19 February marked the 5th anniversary of the racist murders in Hanau, Germany. In 2020, Gökhan Gültekin, Sedat Gürbüz, Said Nesar Hashemi, Mercedes Kierpacz, Hamza Kurtović, Vili Viorel Păun, Fatih Saraçoğlu, Ferhat Unvar and Kaloyan Velkov were all murdered by a fascist – whom the police were previously aware of. There have been little consequences for the German police’s massive failure to prevent extremist violence. Each year, anti-fascist and anti-racist demonstrations and vigils are held to collectively mourn the dead and fight for justice. Police cracked down heavily on one such vigil in the Neukölln area on Wednesday night.

More Budget Cuts

On Wednesday night, Berlin's Senator for Culture Joe Chialo announced another round of drastic budget cuts. The news comes swiftly after November's initial round of heavy funding losses, recently reported by Caroline Whiteley on Refuge Worldwide. It is estimated that over 300 million Euros will further be slashed from Berlin's cultural sector, which is already in crisis mode.

Kurdish Frauenkulturtage

From 1 to 8 March, the annual Kurdische Frauenkulturtage are back. Hosted by the Kurdish feminist organisation Cenî e.V., a series of events will take place across various locations in Berlin. This year’s festival is themed “Xwebûn”, meaning resistance. Events include exhibitions, panel discussions, music and theatre performances, as well as workshops. Join in to learn about the theory and practice of the Kurdish feminist movement and their resistance to occupation and patriarchy. The full program is available on the Cenî e.V. website, with most of the events accessible free of charge.

Democratic Republic of Congo Fundraiser Sale

Focus Congo e.V., an NGO dedicated to change and community empowerment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has launched a fundraiser throught a special t-shirt sale. You can buy the designs via their PayPal fundraiser page. All proceeds will support those affected by the ongoing crisis in the DRC. The shirts are available in sizes S, M, L, and XL with a recommended price of 35-45€, though higher contributions are always welcome.

FU Event with Francesca Albanese cancelled

The Free University of Berlin has cancelled an event featuring Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, over allegations of antisemitism. The panel discussion, „Conditions of Life Calculated to Destroy. Legal and Forensic Perspectives on the Ongoing Gaza Genocide“, was originally scheduled for 19 February. It was cancelled by the university due to pressure by the state government as well as the Israeli ambassador. Prior to this, another event with Albanese had already been cancelled at a university in Munich.

The UN Rapporteur condemned these incidents of state interference in public discourse and freedom of speech. The repression continued, when Albanese set to speak at a panel titled “Reclaiming the Discourse: Palestine, Justice and the Power of Truth” at Kühlhaus Berlin. Following pressure from the authorities and graffiti calling Albanese an “antisemite”, the venue cancelled the event on short notice. It was subsequently moved to the leftist publication, Junge Welt, where it took place under excessive presence of the German police. Francesca Albanese expressed deep worry about the increase of policing and censorship in Germany, which pose a danger to democracy. 

Open Letter for Long Covid Care

The German state is failing to adequately support people suffering from Long Covid and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Millions of people worldwide are affected by these conditions and face a constant battle to be recongised or receive the care they need. The initiative Dunkelziffer Unversorgt is raising awareness of the #MillionsMissing due to Covid and the government’s inadequate support and protection. They have launched an open letter aimed at pressuring the German government to take Covid and Long Covid seriously and provide specialised outpatient clinics in Berlin. 

Reading and Conversations “Parable of the Sower”

Miss Read is organising an evening for Octavia Butler fans. On 22 February at 18:00, there will be a reading of “Parable of the Sower” and a subsequent conversation with Joud Al-Tamimi and Maryam Fazeli as well as a sound performance. Come by to discuss the transformative power of science fiction and to talk about collective transnational activism.

Drag Show at Tipsy Bear

On Saturday 22 of February, Tipsy Bear is hosting the beyond drag event “Trans*formations in other Dimensions” featuring a drag show and several performances by local musicians like VIO, Chloecaine, and Kaleidolicious. It starts at 19:30 and tickets are 10€.

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Header photo by Julia Taubitz