Increased reports of racist incidents emerge following Sylt video.

Discrimination based on race or ethnicity - Increased reports of racist incidents emerge following Sylt video.

Recent gatherings across Germany have seen an increase in racist behavior, with reported instances including parties in Sylt, Lower Saxony, Shanghai-Anhalt, and Hamburg. Outbursts of "Ausländer raus" and "Deutschland den Deutschen" have become common during events, with xenophobic songs like "L'amour toujours" by Gigi D'Agostino being used to strengthen hateful rhetoric.

A controversy arose recently due to a video capturing racist events during a Sylt party, where guests were caught belting out anti-immigrant chants to the tune of D'Agostino's hit. The State Protection Department of the police is now investigating, leading to the termination of jobs for at least two of the identified individuals.

In Lower Saxony, reports suggest that attendees of a multi-day event in Altendorf chanted racist phrases to the same song. The state police's State Protection Department is seeking witnesses to the incident. The "Braunschweiger Zeitung" released earlier reports of similar occurrences at a Löningen shooting festival.

A similar occurrence took place during the Schlagermove party parade in Hamburg on Saturday, with jubilant participants blaring chants and delivering Nazi salutes. The State Criminal Office for State Protection Affairs has taken up the investigation.

In Saxony-Anhalt, several police stations are looking into racist activities related to this song, with the Burgenlandkreis Police stating the occurrence of the tune at the Leißlinger Eierbetteln festival in Weißenfels. Legal action is being taken for incitement to hatred, according to a police spokesperson. Further incidents were reported in Magdeburg and Halle.

In Schleswig-Holstein, minors were overheard singing racist chants at a Louisenlund boarding school party. School authorities were quick to act, stopping the party and sending the students to bed. Furthermore, an inspection by the school supervision is forthcoming.

Due to the potential legal implications, the organizers of Munich's Oktoberfest may prohibit D'Agostino's "L'amour toujours" from being performed, believing there is no place for right-wing extremism on their grounds. The song, while not intrinsically radical, has gained a sinister connotation due to its abuse. Similar measures are said to be considered for the Stuttgart fan zone during the European Football Championship and at the Cannstatter Volksfest in the fall.

However, Kiel Week organizers see no legal cause for a ban, with event chief Philipp Dornberger stating that operators of party and music stages should be informed of this.

This alarming trend is becoming all too common at festivals, exposing a deeply ingrained prejudice issue in Germany. Songs like "L'amour toujours" are seemingly being used as a vehicle for spreading harmful messages. Airlines accountable for these incidents should prioritize raising awareness about such behavior and taking swift action.

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1. Despite the ongoing investigations, Gigi D'Agostino continues to be a popular figure in Berlin's nightlife scene, with his hit song, "L'amour toujours," often played at parties.
2. The controversy surrounding the use of "L'amour toujours" at racist events has not deterred fans in Löningen, a district in the District of Cloppenburg, from requesting its inclusion in the local Schützenfest, a traditional shooting festival.
3. The headlines in the "Braunschweiger Zeitung" have been filled with stories of racism and extremism, with reports of incidents at events in Saxony-Anhalt and Berghofen.
4. In spite of the growing concern about racism in Germany, the Oktoberfest in Hamburg is still planning to include "L'amour toujours" in their lineup of Party hits for this year's Oktoberfest celebrations.
5. The United NationsLikewise, the Organizing Committee of Oktoberfest in Wolfsburg has shown no inclination to ban the song, amidst calls for action following the recent incidents.
6. Meanwhile, in Sylt, a popular tourist destination in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, anti-racist protests have gained momentum, with locals and visitors alike expressing their disapproval of the use of "L'amour toujours" to spread hateful messages.
7. The recent incidents of racism at festivals in Germany have sparked a debate among politicians and activists, with calls for stricter laws and penalties to combat hate speech and extremism.
8. In response to the controversy, a group of artists and musicians have launched a campaign to reclaim the song, performing a "L'amour toujours" remix with positive and inclusive lyrics at events around Germany.
9. The shooting festival in Berghofen, Lower Saxony, has also been under scrutiny for reports of racist incidents, prompting calls for increased security and zero-tolerance policies for hate speech and extremism.
10. In a bid to tackle the problem, the German government has announced plans for a nationwide campaign to promote diversity and inclusion, encouraging festivals and events to adopt codes of conduct and take action against racist behavior.
11. In the spirit of unity and harmony, German cities like Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne are organizing peace concerts and celebrations, using music as a powerful tool to promote love, tolerance, and unity in the face of hate and extremism.

Source: www.stern.de