Demonstration after Eklat: Demonstrators call for protection from racism

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Berliner Volksbühne on Friday to demand safe spaces for Black individuals after a controversial decision to cancel a swimming afternoon exclusively for Black children and youth at the nearby Volksbad. The protest was marked by tensions with right-wing streamers who attempted to disrupt the demonstration, leading to a confrontation involving police and one of the participants. The event unfolded near a temporary pool set up for public use, approximately 25 meters long and five meters wide. Just a week prior, the facility had been closed to the general public due to safety concerns, prompting the organization of this demonstration. Over 300 people took part, many holding signs condemning the racist rhetoric they claimed was being spread by far-right figures. Among them was Rosalina Koch, one of the organizers, who spoke passionately into a microphone, expressing anger toward those who still questioned why Black people needed safe spaces. As Koch addressed the crowd, several officers from the Awareness Team, which assists with such demonstrations, were escorted away by police. Demonstrators followed closely behind, creating a tense atmosphere. Around 17 officers were deployed during the operation, forming a barrier between the protesters and the street. The crowd chanted “You are not alone, you are not alone!” as the situation escalated. Castroya Nara, a 30-year-old man wearing a yellow warning vest, was among those involved. He had arrived in Germany from Eritrea in the early 1990s with his parents. During the demonstration, he reportedly confronted a right-wing streamer who had taken photos of him. In response, Nara showed the middle finger while concealing his face. The streamer then threatened to file a complaint against him, to which Nara retorted he would do the same. Minutes later, five police officers approached Nara, attempting to collect his personal information off-site. Nara stated that he felt threatened as a Black person, saying he did not feel safe. The officers allegedly pushed and pressured him to move away from the demonstration. As a result, nearly 20 officers surrounded Nara between a café and a construction site, isolating him from the hundreds of demonstrators who wanted to support him. According to the account given by Nara, the officers blocked him from interacting with the crowd, effectively separating him from his supporters. Police Chief Wolf confirmed the incident to taz, stating that the officers had identified the streamer and recorded the complaint against Nara. The police sought to verify Nara’s identity in a car near the café because he had forgotten his ID, but this proved impossible due to the growing crowd approaching the officers. Rosalina Koch expressed frustration over the situation, noting that among the 40 members of the Awareness Team, only the one Black individual was detained, despite all having engaged in similar actions. She suggested that the police might have been deliberately targeted by the right-wing streamer, who could have used the opportunity to place Nara in a position as a Black person. Koch had previously posted on Instagram to organize the demonstration, criticizing how some left-wing activists in Berlin remained silent following the Volksbad incident. She called out the hypocrisy of those who protested against racism yet stayed quiet after the event. The police have maintained their stance, asserting that they acted within their duties and that the situation was handled professionally. As the demonstration continued, the tension between the demonstrators, the police, and the right-wing presence highlighted ongoing challenges around race and public space in Berlin.