Labeled Nazi Slogans - Furor surrounding Sylt scandal footage
Politicians are worried about a potential shift to the right in the country, as young party guests on Sylt were caught on camera chanting racist slogans at a bar. This incident is causing alarm and concerns about the possibility of damage to democracy. Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) commented, "Anyone who rumbles, excludes, and shouts fascist slogans like this is attacking what holds our country together." The Pony bar in Kampen has filed a criminal complaint, and state security is investigating the use of unconstitutional signs and incitement of people.
In a viral video, young people can be seen and heard chanting racist slogans set to Gigi D'Agostino's more than 20-year-old party hit "L'amour toujours." They sing, "Germany to the Germans - foreigners out!", seemingly uninhibited and enthusiastic. One man makes a gesture reminiscent of the Hitler salute. The bystanders appear to be unbothered by this behavior.
Consequences for some of those involved quickly followed. The advertising agency Serviceplan Group dismissed one of its employees without notice, while Hamburg influencer Milena Karl also dismissed an employee. "I am a migrant myself and as an expectant mother, everything that can be seen in this video represents a society in which I do not want to raise my child," she stated.
The operators of the restaurant wrote on Instagram, "If our staff had witnessed such behavior at any time, we would have reacted immediately. We would have informed the police and pressed charges. We have since been able to do so." There were several hundred guests at the party, according to the managing director of the restaurant, Tim Becker, who spoke to ZDF.
The artist, DJ Gigi D'Agostino, who composed the song in question, had a different perspective. He said, "My song 'L'amour toujours' is about a wonderful, great, and intense feeling that connects people. The joy of the beauty of being together is also central."
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck expressed his dismay at the video. He remarked, "The scenes were disturbing and absolutely unacceptable." Habeck also noted that by celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law, Germany has managed to become a strong democracy built on respect and plurality. "It is our task to protect this." Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) described the slogans as "disgusting" and "unacceptable."
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) echoed those sentiments, telling Funke media group newspapers, "Anyone who shouts Nazi slogans such as 'Germany to the Germans - foreigners out' is a disgrace to Germany."
These incidents are not just happening on Sylt. Similar occurrences have been reported in recent months in Bavaria and Lower Saxony. In the Upper Palatinate, the police are investigating a potential incident at a carnival parade in February.
In Erlangen, two men chanted racist slogans to the song "L'amour toujours" at the Bergkirchweih. The suspects, aged 21 and 26, were banned from entering the area on Friday evening, and the State Security Service has launched an investigation.
A similar case was reported in Lower Saxony over Whitsun. Racist slogans were also shouted during the shooting festival in Löningen, including to "L'amour toujours," which is also being investigated by the State Security Service.
Expert Pia Lamberty interprets this as a normalization of right-wing extremist content in society. She said, "Without there being any form of contradiction, social norms are simply being broken. People can express extreme slogans in public without fear. The song 'L'amour toujours' is now increasingly linked to racist slogans, and that does something to the brain. This is how right-wing extremists create an acceptance of such slogans in society at large."
In Sylt and elsewhere, the normalization of right-wing extremist content is concerning to many, fueling worries about the health of German democracy.
This story reveals the Cemas expert's viewpoint: "Right-wing extremism isn't just an issue in eastern Germany or low-income areas, but also among the upper class." The video illustrates the significant threat for those affected, which isn't solely linked to their economic status. It might surprise you, but the video shows that "racism can even seep into the ranks of those who attended universities or hold managerial positions." In conclusion, right-wing extremism and racial prejudices are prevalent in all aspects of society.
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Source: www.stern.de