A school class from Berlin had to break off their holiday camp in Brandenburg early and leave at night. Some students had been threatened.
Heidesee – A school class from Berlin had to break off their holiday camp in Heidesee (Brandenburg) early on Sunday night (7 May). Some of the students are said to have been racially insulted and even threatened, said a spokesman for the Cottbus police. Now the state security, which is responsible for politically motivated crimes, is investigating for insult, incitement to hatred and possibly also threats. Recently, an emotional video of a schoolgirl who was racially insulted and attacked on a bus also caused a stir.
Racism against Berlin students in the summer camp: Children accompanied home under police protection
According to the police, a birthday had also taken place in the holiday camp in the Dahme-Spreewald district, with guests who come from the region. This group is said to have led to verbal attacks on students from the class who have a migration background. They are said to have been racially insulted. As a spokesman further announced, it is also said to have come to threatening gestures. According to the police, they were able to prevent a physical altercation. Nine out of ten people see racism in Germany, as the newly established National Racism Monitor shows.
A racist incident occurred at a holiday camp in Heidesee, Brandenburg. Students were threatened. © Michael Bahlo/dpa
Police protection and investigations into racism in summer camps: "Children are in shock"
After the altercation, a teacher informed the parents of the students. The class had returned to Berlin during the night, although the departure had not been planned until Monday. The police accompanied the departure and interviewed witnesses during the night. According to a police spokeswoman, the identities of 28 people had been established. So far, it has remained unclear whether all of them are suspects. According to another police spokesman, the investigation must first show exactly how the incident took place. Racist attacks and xenophobia are also an issue in Munich. This is shown by official statistics as well as the experiences of the people who have to live with the hostility.
A father told the B.Z. that he had to pick up his child from the summer camp at around 3 a.m. Previously, the guests of the celebration allegedly tried to break into the accommodation of the students. "Many children are in shock. They didn't know this xenophobia from Berlin," he is quoted as saying. According to the B.Z., the class trip was originally planned to prepare for a math exam. Now it is being considered to postpone the examination because of the incident.
Racism can take many forms. For decades, children's songs such as "Aramsamsam" or "C-a-f-f-e-e" have also been sung in schools or kindergartens. According to experts, children cannot grasp the meaning of the terms and the historical context in songs and tend to adopt often stereotypical descriptions of people. (nz/dpa/afp)
