Racism in the stadium: Police officer insulted by fans in a bar!

Racism in the stadium: Police officer insulted by fans in a bar!

A disturbing incident in Braunschweig is causing a stir and fueling discussion about racism in our society. On Saturday evening, a police officer with foreign roots was racially insulted in a bar frequented primarily by football fans. A 54-year-old guest insulted him with the words “Shit Kanake”. This appalling insult was not only accepted by others present, but even caused loud hilarity among the bar patrons. Thomas Bodendiek, the head of the Braunschweig police station, was outraged by this reaction and strongly condemned the behavior. The police have now launched an investigation to get to the bottom of the incident and hold those involved accountable, as NDR reports.

In this context, it is becoming increasingly clear that racist statements represent a serious problem not only in everyday life, but also within the police. A recent study based on an extensive survey shows that around a third of police officers in Germany reported racist or sexist comments within their ranks. These worrying figures come from the MEGAVO study, which revealed numerous stresses within the police in two surveys of more than 40,000 participants. Around 30% of those surveyed stated that they had experienced racist comments within just one year, and in the case of sexist discrimination the proportion is even around 40%. According to the study, anti-Muslim attitudes and rejection of asylum seekers in particular are on the rise.

A burgeoning problem

This worrying development does not occur in isolation. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser calls for “zero tolerance” towards extremism and racism. At the same time, however, the everyday stress caused by a lack of personnel and bureaucracy is also criticized, which is seen as a major challenge by around 60% of police officers.

The MEGAVO study points out that in the first survey from November 2021 to October 2022, 11% of participants agreed with an anti-Muslim attitude, while in the second survey from November 2023 to March 2024, 17% already held this attitude. This not only calls into question tolerance within the police, but also reveals deeper social cracks.

The repeated incidents of racism, be it in everyday life or within institutions, indicate that there is a need for action. While the majority of police officers support tolerance and democracy, there is no denying that a significant number of officers are still stuck in their worldview, which ultimately has a negative impact on trust in the police. The incident in Braunschweig is a sad, but unfortunately not unusual, example that makes you think.

The social discussion about racism and the need for clear boundaries against such statements is becoming increasingly important. It remains to be hoped that both the investigations in Braunschweig and the results of the MEGAVO study will lead to a rethink and that society as a whole will be made more aware of diversity and respect.

For further information about the racist incident and the background to the MEGAVO study, we refer to the reporting by NDR and daily news.