"Racism and Discrimination": That was the title of the kick-off event of the newly installed integration advisory board in the district.
At the premiere in the Peißenberg underground hall, there was a lot of controversy.
Representatives of the AfD also mingled with the visitors.
Peißenberg
– The Weilheim-Schongau Integration Advisory Board has made it its mission to be a mouthpiece for all migrants living in the district.
The committee wants to get involved in the political discourse and also deal with contrary opinions.
There was already an opportunity to do this at the first self-organized event.
As Chairman of the Advisory Board Cenin Yasar remarked during the welcome address, the around 50 visitors in the underground hall were “people from a wide variety of backgrounds” – including people of different political persuasions.
For example, AfD district chief Rüdiger Imgart took a seat in the first row.
The AfD had voted against the integration concept in the district council, which also recommended the implementation of an integration advisory board.
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The Green Member of Parliament Cemal Bozoglu during his speech.
© EMANUEL GRONAU
After the words of welcome from Peißenberg's Mayor Frank Zellner (CSU; "Integration is an ongoing task and never completed"), guest speaker Cemal Bozoglu gave a brief outline of the current situation in terms of "racism and discrimination".
The spokesman for strategies against right-wing extremism for the Greens parliamentary group in the state parliament described racism as “group-related enmity”.
Educational work, mutual contacts and communication would help against this social "disruptive factor": "Racism often results from not having any experience with people from other origins," says Bozoglu.
MdL Cemal Bozoglu calls for anti-discrimination law for Bavaria
Unfortunately, it should be noted “that racism has become more open in society”.
According to Bozoglu, there are no more racists compared to before, “but a lot of people feel encouraged.
Social ostracism is waning.
That is a very negative development.” Racism would have different manifestations and causes.
Bozoglu cited applications for a job or an apartment as an example.
Interested foreign buyers often lose out: "That has been statistically proven," stated Bozoglu.
Another visitor criticized the examples for being “thimble”.
It is still the landlord's "private decision" as to whom he leaves his apartment to.
But Bozoglu countered: One should not be disadvantaged because of one's origin.
AfD district chief Imgart: "I'm not a racist"
Finally, Bozoglu had a verbal skirmish with Rüdiger Imgart.
The trigger: Bozoglu described the AfD as a "fully extreme party".
Imgart disagreed: "I'm not a racist.
Racism and discrimination have no place in society.” Imgart complained about a split in society: “The great solidarity is increasingly being lost.” Stricter laws are not needed to curb racism and discrimination.
"But getting to know each other, that's what convinces me," Imgart explained.
Often there are no racist thoughts at all that would motivate landlords, for example, to give their apartment to foreigners: "Often there are prejudices that have to be dismantled."
Bozoglu took good note of Imgart's negative words regarding racism and discrimination, but: "You should then consider whether you want to stay in this party." The AfD in the state parliament is indeed racist.
“It is precisely for this reason that five MPs left the parliamentary group in the first place,” Bozoglu reported.
Racism is a "phenomenon" that must be fought: "We can get a grip on it," was Bozoglu's hopeful prognosis.
Cenin Yasar and her Advisory Board colleague, Abdu Almalees, were satisfied with the kick-off event.
Almalees said the tone of the discussion was "okay" apart from a few interjections and annoying laughter during Bozoglu's presentation.
"Communication is the be-all and end-all," Yasar summed up: "We want to build bridges and not exclude anyone."
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.
