“#piss off to Berlin”
Fate of fire letter teachers is ‘alarming’
07/13/2023, 6:40 p.m
A fire letter from two teachers in Brandenburg shocks the whole of Germany – but apparently the warnings from Max Teske and Laura Nickel don’t change much, because they are now leaving the school. It is becoming increasingly clear that this is not an isolated case.
The withdrawal of two teachers from their school in the Spreewald because of right-wing hostilities caused dismay in Brandenburg. In addition to criminal investigations, the fight against right-wing extremism is to be intensified. “Whether on the street, in clubs, schools or companies: there must be no place in Brandenburg where the right wing wants to stir up fears and drive out those who think differently,” said Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. And the SPD politician emphasized: “We support everyone who is committed and courageous in opposing right-wing extremism.”
He was referring to the teachers Max Teske and Laura Nickel. In April, they made it public in a fire letter that they were confronted with right-wing extremism, sexism and homophobia on a daily basis at their school in Burg im Spreewald. The letter sparked a debate that was also followed nationwide. The teachers were then increasingly exposed to hostilities. In the past few days, stickers could be seen in the place, on which a photo of the two could be seen, underneath it was written: “#’pisst you to Berlin*”. Both were also threatened on a social network. On Wednesday it was announced that both are now leaving school.
Right-wing extremist crimes increase by a third
The incidents are not isolated in Brandenburg. The school authorities have reported more such cases since the right-wing extremist acts in Burg became known. And the total number of politically motivated right-wing crimes in Brandenburg rose by a third to 1049 in the first half of this year, according to preliminary figures from the Ministry of the Interior.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sees an indirect connection between the right-wing extremist incidents in Burg and the recent AfD election successes. There is a connection insofar as the advantages of a democracy are not valued everywhere, said Steinmeier during a visit to Werder/Havel. You have to convince more people that democracy didn’t just fall out of the sky.
“It is alarming that those who resolutely oppose right-wing extremist hatred are increasingly becoming the target of right-wing violence themselves,” said Green Party domestic politician Misbah Khan. “In addition to a sustainable strengthening of democratic and anti-fascist structures,” it is important to better protect those affected. In the planned reform of the reporting law, the traffic light coalition will therefore simplify the possibility of blocking information. If such a block is entered, the registration authority will not provide any information about the address. However, the hurdles for such a ban have so far been relatively high. It must also be reapplied for every two years.
AfD comes in Brandenburg to 28 percent
In Brandenburg, a new state parliament will be elected next year. In the most recent survey by the Insa institute for the “Bild” newspaper, the AfD came to 28 percent in the Sunday question – ahead of the SPD with 21 percent. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD state association there in 2020 as a suspected right-wing extremist, the AfD-Jugend Junge Alternative has been a right-wing extremist since Wednesday.
Because of the threats from the right-wing scene against the two teachers, the Cottbus State Education Authority is examining criminal charges against unknown persons. “It is unacceptable for state officials or employees to be threatened,” said Education Minister Steffen Freiberg. The school authority immediately took action in the school after the fire letter. There have been discussions with those affected, parents, teachers and students. Before they decided to leave school, the two of them did not contact the Minister of Education or the school authority on the matter.
In the spring, the two teachers founded the “School for more democracy” alliance with a pastor. This Thursday, the alliance criticized that Teske and Nickel had not received sufficient support from state politics and the school. The teachers’ union GEW also considers further work to be necessary. Such right-wing extremist incidents are not a problem for the school alone. Rather, right-wing tendencies are a consequence of social development. The Victims Perspective association warned: “The problem that Burg has with the extreme right will not go away if nobody is there to address it.”