News from Berlin and Germany: 24th July 2021

Weekly news roundup from Berlin and Germany


23/07/2021

Compiled by Ana Ferreira

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Rolling “Arbeitskampf”

In front of the warehouse of the delivery service Gorillas at Platz der Luftbrücke, ten drivers of the company Gorillas stand in a circle at around 12 o’clock on Saturday, and decided to go on strike. Kağan Sümer, the head of the delivery service, announced after protests in June that he would visit all the company’s warehouses in Germany and get an idea of the situation. This did not happen. As a follow-up, the riders have drawn up a list of demands such as having a luggage rack on the bikes, so that the riders do not have to carry the goods on their backs any more. Source: nd

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Protest against police law in Bavaria grows

Die LINKE wants to file a complaint against the controversial amendment of the Police Task Act (PAG) in Bavaria. The proposed background check for citizens is a particular source of legal controversy. Ates Gürpinar (Die LINKE) stressed that his party considers the background check to be grossly unconstitutional and has commissioned the lawyer Adelheid Rupp to examine a complaint. The PAG has been a contentious issue in Bavaria for years. After long and tough negotiations, the CSU and the Free Voters reached a compromise in December to defuse the law. It is to be discussed again in the Landtag shortly. Source: nd

Farewell to an anti-fascist fighter

With the gaze of lovingly watchful eyes A large crowd of mourning comrades, especially anti-fascists, was expected – and they did not disappoint. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people gathered on and in front of the Jewish cemetery in Ohlsdorf to pay their last respects to Esther Bejarano. In the past week happened countless commemorative events throughout Germany by Die LINKE, the DKP, the VVN-BdA and other left organisations. In Hamburg and other big cities, posters with slogans like “Your struggle continues” could be seen. The religious ceremony was led by a rabbi from the Jewish community, and it was attended by family members and friends. Source: nd

CDU politician Philipp Amthor poses with neo-Nazis

A photo of neo-Nazis and CDU member of parliament Philipp Amthor is causing an uproar on the internet. The picture was posted on Twitter by the account of the Antifascist Left (Antifa) Bochum. The 28-year-old Amthor can be seen at the Stettiner Haff horse festival in Boock in his home state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In the photo, Philipp Amthor stands laughing between two men, one of whom is wearing a T-shirt showing solidarity with convicted and imprisoned Ursula Haverbeck, who is one of Germany’s best-known Holocaust deniers. Amthor defends himself, saying he did not see what was written o the T-shirt. Source: fr

“Capitalism brought these floods°

Until some years ago, we used to think climate change would be devastating for the coming generations. But this is happening right now. Despite denialists, the flood which swept away some small towns in Germany last week, came because of climate change. And capitalism plays a role here: global temperatures have risen about 1 degree Celsius since the Industrial Revolution. Still, German politicians´ responses are yet (un)surprisingly subdued. They promised for instance emergency aid to rebuild destroyed houses — but how about measures to protect the environment? This might lead us to another issue, if there is an alternative, beyond the rules of market. Source: ExBerliner

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