Festival in Jamel: Dispute between organizers and district escalates!

Festival in Jamel: Dispute between organizers and district escalates!

Last weekend, the small village of Jamel in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania once again transformed into a center of the creative counter-movement against right-wing extremism. The “Jamel rocks the forester” festival took place and, according to the police, was “peaceful as expected”. But behind the scenes there was a lot of simmering going on. Disputes between the district of Nordwestmecklenburg and the organizers dragged on for several months after a decision by the Schwerin Administrative Court was not accepted, which led to a legal dispute.

Birgit Lohmeyer, one of the organizers, spoke clearly and called the authorities' behavior “scandalous” and a “prevention tactic.” Musicians from the well-known band Toten Hosen also took to the barricades. They accused District Administrator Tino Schomann and the CDU in the district of cooperating with neo-Nazis. This shows a deep mistrust between the parties and a clear gap in political and social perception.

The dispute over the festival

The festival, which is intended as a political statement against right-wing extremist tendencies, is the focus of a heated debate. It is supported not only by events in the Lohmeyers' home village, but also by a wide audience from all over Germany. The reason to advocate for peaceful coexistence should not be underestimated: Jamel has been targeted by right-wing extremists in the past as a “National Socialist model village”.

Before the festival, the local authorities demanded a lease of 8,000 euros for the use of the space and imposed extensive requirements, such as a ban on glass bottles and an increased number of stewards. Despite these challenges, the political nature of the festival remained at the forefront and it was registered as a political gathering in order to use the space free of charge.

Political support and controversy

The dispute found an echo in political circles: Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt (Die Linke) called for respect for the rule of law and cooperation against right-wing extremists. This led to massive support for the organizers from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state representation in Berlin, which criticized the bureaucratic requirements as inappropriate. The reaction to this was a heated argument with the CDU state leadership and the AfD state parliamentary group, who viewed the state representation's statements as inappropriate and a disregard for the neutrality requirement.

District Administrator Tino Schomann rejected the allegations of the organizers and Toten Hosen as false and understood the discussion as a discrediting of the state measures. The CDU district association expressed solidarity with Schomann on social media and sharply criticized the organizers, who, in their opinion, had used legal tricks.

A look at the future

Right-wing extremism remains a constant threat to democracy in Germany. The developments in Jamel show how this social block exists on the path to education about the challenges related to right-wing extremism and the defense against extremist efforts. There is enormous potential for right-wing extremist ideologies, which has been shown in recent years by the increasing hostility against the Lohmeyers, who have been active against the right since 2004.

The festival's mission is to actively combat these ideas and serve as a platform for political messages. The Aachen Peace Prize, which the Lohmeyers received in 2025, is further evidence of their commitment to this important topic. It remains to be seen how the political and social tensions surrounding the festival will continue.

In this sense, society's willingness to defend itself against extremist tendencies plays a central role. Only together can we face the challenges of right-wing extremism and shape a peaceful future for everyone.