Beyond The Act Of Hating

BEYOND THE ACT OF HATING

Persecution, guilt and responsibility: a contemplation

of the rise in hate crime in Germany.

By photographer Claudia Janke and Beyond The Act Of Looking

Germany today: A man urinates on migrant children,

a politician is stabbed, a Muslim cultural center

set on fire, a car of a liberal activist detonated,

refugee shelters attacked, homosexuals threatened,

synagogues defaced, journalists beaten, homeless killed, asylum seekers shot at...

Neuhardenberg, residential home:

"On September, 19th our bus was set

on fire, at night, in the morning at

3am and I watched the flames; with my

husband. It was a horrifying image:

the raging fire, the bus burning out."

Far-right sentiment and populist forces have been

increasingly successful in entering mainstream politics

throughout the European Union. Their growing presence

and strong rhetoric aggravate fear, hate and division among citizens. People with no previous connection to right-wing movements have expressed approval of

their actions. “Besorgte Bürger’(concerned citizens)

are marching the streets rubbing shoulders with the

far-right united by xenophobia and existential angst.

The loathing of the “other” reaches across all layers

of society: Politicians, journalists, LGBT, liberals, immigrants, refugees, the disabled, homeless, Muslims,

Jews and anybody supportive of these groups are exposed

to abuse, intimidation and terror.

("We are the people" a chant asscociated with the xenophic PEGIDA movement)

Neuhardenberg, 14.05.2015, afternoon, football pitch: Violence breaks out at

a football match between local youth and refugees organised by the local “Refugee Welcome” initiative. Native youth push

and kick the refugees and sing the

banned Nazi-song “Horst-Wessel Lied”.

Neuhardenberg, 14.05.2015, afternoon,

football pitch: Violence breaks out at a football match. Local youth push

and kick refugees and sing the banned

'Horst Wessel' Nazi-song.

“I am from Somalia, I have been living

in Neuhardenberg for a year and a half.

One day we were playing football with

another team, when they started to hit

us. They threw a banana and bottles at

us, they shouted at us and said “You are

donkeys, you are not human, why have you come here?" They said “We will kill you”

and some things like that."

HATE CRIME:

A criminal act motivated by bias or prejudice towards particular groups of people.

(Online abuse)

"I don't usually hit women but in your case, I would make an exception."

"You should be locked up in a psychiatric ward for observation.

Something like you shouldn't be aloud to roam around freely."

"You better watch yourself.

Your actions will have consequences, you cunt!"

"Fucking anti-fascist whore! Do you want trouble? Sooner or later we will get you."

"Scum, that all you are.

Hopefully soon you'll be

raped by those dirty savages."

2013 2014 2015

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Far-right and xenophobic hate crime attacks in Germany 2013-2015

Research indecates that figures have doubled in 2016 (source: BMI)

Hate crime is divisive and harmful. It destroys community cohesion and works against a unified, free and safe society.

(Source:Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General)

Merseburg, 20.08.2015, at night,

Muslim intercultural centre:

The building is defaced with

two Swastikas.

30.08.2015, 9:45pm: The front door

is jammed with a spray can and

ignited. Two residents of the house

discover the flames and stop the fire.

("Media Lies")

LÜGENPRESSE!

Dresden, 28.09.2015, 7.30pm, Parliament Square:

A journalist attending the weekly xenophobic and

islamophobic Pegida demonstrations is attacked by demonstrators. His attackers try to take his camera and punch him in the face. The media is demonised by far-right and populist movements. The “Lügenpresse” (lying media) is accused of

being under government control.

Cologne, 17.10.2015, 9am, farmers market:

Henriette Reeker, candidate for the up-

coming city mayor election, is stabbed

and critically injured while campaigning.

The attacker sites her liberal approach

to the refugee crisis as his reason.

Berlin, 21.08.2015, 9.45pm, S-Bahn,

Landsberger Allee station:

Two men enter a S41 train and racially

assault a mother and her two children.

They shout “Asylantenpack”(asylumscum),

talk about “Herrenrasse”(master race),

salute Hitler and spit on the family.

One of the men appears to urinate on

the children.

Limburg, 22.10.2014, 11pm,

homeless shelter: 53-years old Charles W. moves to the shelter.

His new room mate returns home

with friends. Charles pads their

dog. The men call him a “black pig” and proceed to beat and kick

Charles until he is dead.

Merseburg, 30.08.2015, 1pm,

Geusaer Straße: A 38-years old

Somali refugee is shot at with

an air rifle. The projectile

is later removed from the back

of his neck. The shot is fired

from a park across the road.

Jüterbog, 11.09.2016, 4:45am, refugee shelter for unaccompanied minors:

A brick is thrown through a bedroom window.

1.10.2016, 1.15am: Two Molotov cocktails are thrown at a bedroom window.

The fire melts the curtain before it can

be stopped by social workers.

Hamid, 18: "We are frightened and can’t sleep. We don't go out on our own."

What to do, if you witness hate crime:

- Try to gently take the victim away from the abuser

- Call the police or tell another authority figure

- If you feel it’s safe stand up for the victim

- Film the incident so that there is evidence

- Ask the victim if they are OK

- Ask if you can help the victim to report the incident

- You can report hate crime to police or hate crime

support services

(guidelines: stophateuk.org)

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All images, films, audio and written words on this site are the property of Claudia Janke/Beyond The Act Of

France:

http://www.facingfacts.eu

Victims of violent crime hotline:

08 10 09 86 09

Police: 17

Pan-European emergency number: 112

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Links for more information or help:

Germany:

http://www.mobile-opferberatung.de

http://wie-kann-ich-helfen.info

http://www.netz-gegen-nazis.de

Police: 110

United Kingdom:

http://www.stophateuk.org

http://tellmamauk.org

Police: 999