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30 years after Rostock-Lichtenhagen: “The state was completely powerless”
Exactly 30 years ago today, the worst racist riots in Germany since the Second World War took place in Rostock-Lichtenhagen. Contemporary witness and politician Steffen Bockhahn is still trying to come to terms with what happened.
Now, three decades later, Steffen Bockhahn is also trying to come to terms with the situation from back then. He is a contemporary witness, politician with the party “Die Linke” and Senator for youth and social affairs, health, school and sport in Rostock. In the 344th episode of the “Today Important” podcast, he tries to recapitulate the mood from back then: “In the summer of 1992 it was still completely unclear where the journey was going. The unit had been there for almost two years and the first thing we what we experienced in the city was rampant mass unemployment.”
In Rostock they were overwhelmed by the new situation
In addition, refugees came to Germany and the city of Rostock, with whom one was completely overwhelmed on site. “A totally explosive atmosphere arose, which – let me say this very clearly – can only be attributed to the refugees themselves to a very limited extent. Because yes, not everyone behaved the way one would have liked. But the whole thing has a history, and you shouldn’t forget that either,” said Bockhahn.
And so an explosive atmosphere was brewing, which then erupted between August 22nd and 26th, 1992 at the “Sunflower House” as the worst racist riots after the Second World War.
The police have withdrawn in Lichtenhagen
The police no longer had a chance, says Steffen Bockhahn: “You have to imagine: the fire brigade withdrew because the police were not able to make it possible for them to extinguish it. It is an absurd process that simply makes it clear that in what boundless power intoxication this mob was on the road and consciously accepted to kill people.”
Steffen Bockhahn, who is also the second deputy mayor in Rostock, warns again and again: “I often quote these days: ‘It happened and consequently it can happen again.’ And then say our job is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
It is the responsibility of Democrats to say: Yes, that is part of this city. And we are going ahead with admonishing. Because this society is not free from xenophobia, anti-Semitism or conspiracy ideologies. And that’s why it’s our job to make it clear that this is between us.”
© TVNOW / Andreas Friese
Podcast “important today”
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