Right-wing extremism in Brandenburg: Alarming increase among young people!

Right-wing extremism in Brandenburg: Alarming increase among young people!

There are currently worrying developments in Brandenburg that are of great concern to society. According to a current report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the number of right-wing extremists in the region is increasing. The situation is particularly alarming because many of these individuals are classified as violence-oriented. This phenomenon is now spreading widely, including among the younger generations. Teachers at the “Mina Witkojc” elementary and high school in Burg report frightening incidents ranging from Hitler salutes to racist and homophobic statements. The anonymously written “fire letter” from teachers Laura Nickel and Max Teske highlights the feeling of powerlessness among teachers. Only after these incidents came to light did the school management react and file a report, while the police and state security began the investigation.

This development was condemned, among others, by the new Education Minister Steffen Freiberg, who expressed her dismay, and by Brandenburg Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has also highlighted the increase in right-wing extremist crimes. A total of 23,500 crimes in the right-wing extremist spectrum were registered in 2022, which corresponds to an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. These figures highlight a growing problem in society, which also causes parents to fear and worry that their children could be pushed into the right-wing corner.

Daycare centers and legal incidents

Parallel to the frightening developments in schools, there are also alarming decisions in the education sector. In Eberswalde, a daycare center had to unexpectedly close, which caused significant problems for almost 100 children and their families. The question arises as to how the affected parents should deal with the sudden closure and where replacement places can be found.

Another incident shows that not only schools but also road traffic are affected by emergencies: a paraglider crashed, which once again brings the risks of some sports to the fore. Drug raids in Frankfurt (Oder) were also on the agenda of the security authorities, which illustrate the seriousness of the situation in the region.

Right-wing extremism and social responses

The increasing number of right-wing incidents is accompanied by increasing social concern. According to the “Victim Perspective” association, a total of 138 cases of right-wing violence were registered in Brandenburg last year, which only reflects a small proportion of the actual incidents. The affected teachers, Nickel and Teske, say they want to build a network in southern Brandenburg to take a stand against this worrying trend. This shows the will to campaign for a more open and tolerant society, framed by the general concern of citizens about right-wing extremist ideas among young people.

Taken together, this is a picture that is causing unrest not only in Brandenburg, but also throughout the Federal Republic, as a [Statista study](https://de.statista.com/statistics/data/study/4032/umfrage/rechtsextremismus-und- Fremdenphobia-in-deutschland/) shows. The numbers are not only alarming, but also call on us all to be vigilant and actively oppose these developments.

It is up to us whether we accept the challenges and fight together for a better society. Everyone can make a contribution to combating right-wing extremism and the problems associated with it.

How will the situation develop further? What else can those responsible do to combat these developments? The coming weeks will show whether social pressure can lead to lasting change.