Germany's Unlikely Protest Wave: A Response to George Floyd's Death

Strategic Insights -

The recent protests against racism in Germany are a testament to the country's growing awareness of its own latent racism. The crowds gathered in Berlin's Alexanderplatz, chanting against racism and demanding justice, marked a significant turning point in Germany's response to police brutality and xenophobia. The protests, which drew nearly 90,000 people, were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and have brought to light a long-standing issue in Germany. Vincent Bababoutilabo from the antiracism group Initiative for Black People in Germany (ISD) noted that while the mainstream is finally getting involved, it's puzzling that the same level of activism wasn't seen in response to racist attacks in Hanau, which took nine lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The protests in Germany were the largest in Europe, with nearly 90,000 people turning out in response to George Floyd's death.
  • The Initiative for Black People in Germany (ISD) received nearly €3,000 in donations per day in the wake of the protests.
  • The far-right-motivated shooting in Hanau led to around 10,000 taking to the streets, a smaller turnout compared to the protests over Floyd's death.
  • A Pew survey showed that Germany had the lowest level of public trust in Europe for US President Donald Trump, amid deteriorating transatlantic relations.
  • Statistics from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency show an increase in discrimination cases, while a poll by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom found that just 51% of respondents believe Germany has a problem with xenophobia and racism.
  • Several state governments are introducing stricter oversights after the discovery of neo-Nazi cells that included members from the police and military.
  • The protests were organized by young German influencers on Instagram, not traditional activist networks, opening up a larger and younger population.
  • Politicians have taken note, with the head of the Social Democratic party (SPD) parliamentary bloc, Saskia Esken, warning Germany to look at "latent racism" among its own security forces.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 90,000 people protested in Germany, the largest protests in Europe sparked by George Floyd's death.
  • The Initiative for Black People in Germany (ISD) received nearly €3,000 in donations per day in the wake of the protests.
  • A Pew survey showed that Germany had the lowest level of public trust in Europe for US President Donald Trump, with 60% of respondents expressing distrust.
  • Statistics from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency show an increase in discrimination cases, with 25,415 cases in 2020.
  • A poll by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom found that just 51% of respondents believe Germany has a problem with xenophobia and racism.
  • 93 arrests were made after the Alexanderplatz protests, many of them of ethnic minorities and two of which involved police holding down and hitting black men.

Sources:

  • "Silent demonstrations" across Germany last Sunday saw nearly 90,000 people turn out (The Guardian)
  • Initiative for Black People in Germany (ISD) received nearly €3,000 in donations per day (The Guardian)
  • Far-right-motivated shooting in Hanau led to around 10,000 taking to the streets (The Guardian)
  • Pew survey showed that Germany had the lowest level of public trust in Europe for US President Donald Trump (The Guardian)
  • Statistics from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency show an increase in discrimination cases (The Guardian)
  • Poll by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom found that just 51% of respondents believe Germany has a problem with xenophobia and racism (The Guardian)