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Friedman triumphs in Schwerin: Award ceremony against hatred and extremism!
The Johannes Stelling Prize will be awarded on October 28, 2025 in the Schwerin Beach Pavilion. Prime Minister Schwesig and Michel Friedman are present.
Friedman triumphs in Schwerin: Award ceremony against hatred and extremism!
A special event took place in the heart of Schwerin on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The beach pavilion on the Schwerin lakeshore was transformed into the setting for the 20th Johannes Stelling Prize, which made waves this year. Among those present were Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, publicist Michel Friedman and SPD parliamentary group leader Julian Barlen.
Barlen opened the event with a clear message: The prize is awarded for commitment to combating xenophobia and extremism, which is of great importance given the current political situation. Security was appropriately tight, with civilian police and patrol cars attending the event. These measures seem to have proven necessary, particularly due to Friedman's previous disinvitation from the Literaturhaus in Klütz.
Friedman receives the top prize
Michel Friedman was awarded the main prize, which was awarded to Silvio Witt for his efforts towards democracy and social cohesion. In his passionate speech, Friedman addressed attitudes, democracy and responsibility. Well-known words like: “The worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship” caused a stir and made people think. He particularly criticized the AfD and warned of the danger of political indifference and the loss of the culture of debate.
Friedman asked those present not to settle for opinions, but to take a stand. After his speech, the audience rewarded him with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Although he did not discuss his disinvitation to Klütz again, he concluded with emphatic words: “Respect for people.”
Security precautions and political relevance
The high media presence and the sophisticated security measures underlined the explosive situation in which such events find themselves today. At a time when extremism and hate crimes are on the rise, values such as tolerance and democracy are more important than ever. These events make it clear that society must take a collective position against negative currents.
Given current political developments, it is crucial to support the engagement of young people and initiatives such as the Johannes Stelling Prize to promote democratic cohesion. The message of the evening was clear: Together against hatred and extremism – that should be the goal of all of us.
In such a climate, in which courageous voices like Michel Friedman's are heard, it becomes clear that every individual can actively participate in shaping our society. Events like these are not only a sign of resistance, but also a call to stand up for the values that are important to us.
Who would have thought that a general award against xenophobia would have so much more meaning than one would initially think? With this in mind, it remains to be seen what steps will be taken next to further strengthen and protect democracy.