Swim event for Black youth in Berlin cancelled due to racist threats
A six-hour swimming event for Black children and teenagers at Berlin’s Volksbad was called-off amidst a wave of threats and online abuse triggered by German right-wing leaders.
A swimming competition for Black youth at Berlin's Volksbad was cancelled due to an influx of racist threats and online abuse. The event, organized by the anti-racism association Each One Teach One (EOTO) and the Volksbühne theatre, had been set for Friday afternoon. EOTO's youth program was intended to have exclusive use of the pool, which was free and open to the public later in the evening.
The Volksbad, a temporary 25-meter outdoor pool, had been rented out for various organizations before. However, the EOTO event drew significant backlash. Following the cancelation, the Volksbühne stated that they could not ensure the safe arrival and departure of attendees, nor could they guarantee a relaxed afternoon. Critics included Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel, who referred to the event as apartheid.
The debate spread rapidly on social media, with EOTO receiving racist threatening emails, threats of violence, and discriminatory comments. The Berliner Zeitung described the Volksbad project as an "embarrassing PR stunt by a spoiled cultural elite." Both EOTO and the Volksbühne announced the cancellation of the event on Thursday, citing concerns over the children's physical and psychological safety.
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