Green youth calls for reforms: Alarm after Lorenz's death in Oldenburg!

Green youth calls for reforms: Alarm after Lorenz's death in Oldenburg!

After the tragic death of 21-year-old Lorenz A. in Oldenburg, who died in April when he was shot by a police weapon, a storm of demands for police reforms has ignited. The Green Youth of Lower Saxony has focused on concrete measures that, in their opinion, should help to strengthen the population's trust in the police and to question structures.
The organization calls, among other things, for the introduction ofBody cameras for police officers, the anonymized identification of police officers as well as the creation of an independent investigative body and the appointment of an independent police commissioner. These suggestions were described by the chairmen of the Green Youth, Yola Kreitlow and Lukas Kluge, as being implementable in the current legislative period ( buten and within, the Lower Saxony, World ).

The situation is not just local, but has also taken on nationwide dimensions. Several initiatives, including “Justice for Lorenz”, have organized a day of action against racist police violence, with a demonstration to take place in the afternoon at the Rathausmarkt in Oldenburg. This shows the breadth of the problem and the increasing need of citizens to have their concerns heard.

Criticism of the demands

But not everyone is convinced of these reforms. The German Police Union (DPolG) and the Police Union (GdP) express clear criticism of the proposed measures. They view many of these demands as unnecessary or as symbolic politics. The requirement for police officers to identify themselves is not considered necessary, and the demand for an independent investigative body is rejected because criminal prosecution is already regulated by law. There are also legal concerns about the mandatory use of body cameras, as personal rights must be protected ( the Lower Saxony, World ).

The Interior Ministry also faces political and legal hurdles. While the labeling requirement is set out in the coalition agreement, it has not yet been implemented. The arguments against the required measures make it clear that the path to reform depends not only on the initiative of civil society, but also on the political framework and the existing legal regulations.

A first step towards change?

Given the critical voices, it remains to be seen how political decision-makers will respond to the pressure. The Green Youth has made it clear that it is time to objectively discuss the structural problems within the police and find solutions that create trust and avoid violence. The step towards reforms could therefore have far-reaching consequences for the future structures of police work in Germany. The demonstration in Oldenburg could be a first step in this direction and send a signal that many citizens are pushing for change.