Berlin Black community pool event canceled after far-right threats

After the cancellation of an event for Black people due to right-wing agitation, the top candidates of the Greens and SPD in Berlin emphasize the importance of safe spaces.

14 August 2026 | 14:51 Uhr

Due to security concerns, the Berlin Volksbühne and the association "Each One Teach One" canceled a planned event. Photo: Christophe Gateau/dpa

By Claudius Prößer

Following the cancellation of the event by the association Each One Teach One (EOTO) at the "Volksbad" at the Berlin Volksbühne, there is harsh criticism of the campaign by right-wing politicians and media against the organizers.

That the event for Black children, youth, and families had to be canceled for security reasons is a "scandal," said Werner Graf, top candidate of the Greens for the election to the Berlin House of Representatives on September 20. "This is shameful for our entire city and the opposite of what Berlin stands for as a city of freedom."

Unfortunately, the CDU, which governs in Berlin, also "decided to participate in this right-wing culture war at the expense of Black Berliners, who are already subjected to strong hostility in their daily lives," said Graf.

On Thursday, the Volksbühne and EOTO announced that the planned use of the temporary swimming pool in front of the theater on Friday was canceled due to threats and racist agitation. "The protection of our guests, partners, and employees is our top priority," said Volksbühne director Matthias Lilienthal. "We stand in solidarity – today and every day – with all those who are exposed to racism and right-wing enemy profiling."

That the invitation to EOTO to offer a holiday program for Black children and youth on one afternoon would trigger a wave of anti-Black racism was, according to Lilienthal, "underestimated."

Racist Threat Emails

EOTO pointed to racist threat emails and discriminatory comments on social media. "We therefore cannot rule out that the children and youth would be exposed to further dangers on that day," the association's statement reads.

The exposed location of the swimming pool also raises concerns that "the protection of personal rights, protection against potential discriminatory and defamatory statements against individuals, and a safe arrival and departure cannot be guaranteed."

SPD top candidate Steffen Krach has also commented on the matter. The Bild newspaper quoted him as saying that one could "argue about the decision of the Volksbad organizers, but not at the expense of People of Color." In response to a query from taz, Krach clarified on Friday that he in no way criticized the offer of exclusive use of the pool by Black people for one afternoon.

"For a white 47-year-old heterosexual man like me, Berlin is almost always and everywhere a safe space, but for People of Color it is not," said Krach, "and as long as we as a city don't manage that, it is our duty to protect them from racism and hatred."

"More Voices Are Needed"

Tahir Della from the board of the Initiative Black People in Germany (ISD) told taz that the harshness and intensity of the campaign against the event, as well as the linking of the content to apartheid and "racial segregation," surprised even him as a long-time activist. He was not really surprised by the outbursts of AfD leader Alice Weidel – but that CDU politicians joined in the same chorus was.

"We believe that the majority society and the media need to take a stronger stance here," said Della, "more voices are needed, and not just from those affected."

Pankow CDU district politician Aileen Weibeler, who complained in a widely clicked Instagram post on Wednesday about a "super strange discriminatory feeling" because she was not allowed into the "Volksbad" on Friday, backtracked a little on Thursday with another post (or not).