Young heroine from Lauchhammer fights against neo-Nazi danger in schools!

Young heroine from Lauchhammer fights against neo-Nazi danger in schools!

In Lauchhammer, a town in the south of Brandenburg, student Jette Poensgen is causing a stir with her courageous efforts. At the end of August she published a provocative article in the Berlin daily newspaper taz, which addresses the frightening spread of neo-Nazi slogans at her school. The article entitled "Tick? I take it as a compliment" highlights both the reactions of classmates and the often indifferent attitude of the adults around them.

What particularly frustrates Jette is the atmosphere in her hometown, which is characterized by a feeling of stagnation. RBB reports that AfD posters go unnoticed before elections, while posters from other parties are often damaged or removed. This reflects the widespread acceptance of nationalist views, which are also expressed in school environments. Jette describes incidents of swastika painting and calls to perform the Hitler salute - a worrying situation.

Viral and controversial

The response to Jette's article was enormous. Not only did it reach the city meeting, where the mayor took a stand, but it also received over 152,000 views on social media taz. This attention brought Jette both a wave of positive reinforcement from her friends, classmates, and teachers, as well as negative reactions, such as threats of violence, which she immediately reported.

The negative voices include an AfD mayoral candidate who described her as a “school mattress”. Despite these attacks, Jette remains optimistic and hopes that her courageous article will lead to a rethink in Lauchhammer. She encourages other young people to also speak out and take action against such conditions. “We have to stand together,” was their clear message.

A look into the future

Jette Poensgen is not only facing the current situation, but is also thinking about her future. She is considering moving to a bigger city to gain more freedom. Nevertheless, she can imagine returning to Lauchhammer at some point to continue fighting for a tolerant homeland. “I would like to see more support for counter-demonstrations against the AfD and clear consequences in school for racist statements,” she explains.

In a city where many old houses are empty and which offers few leisure activities for young people, Poensgen's commitment is a ray of hope. She recognized the importance of speaking out and connecting across groups to create change. Her experiences and her determination to stand up for tolerance and diversity are a strong statement against the brown shadows that lie over her hometown.