The riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen in 1992 went down in the history of newly united Germany. The Federal President is therefore coming to the commemoration event in the Hanseatic city.
30 years after the racist riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to commemorate the victims this Thursday. He is accompanied by Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD). In 1992, the skyscraper was the scene of riots that lasted for days. Workshops, films, exhibitions and forums are held in the city itself. The memory must be kept alive and present so that “such a terrible pogrom” does not happen again, said acting mayor Steffen Bockhahn (left).
From August 22 to 26, 1992, to the applause of thousands of onlookers, residents and neo-Nazis attacked the central reception center for asylum seekers and a dormitory for Vietnamese workers and partly set them on fire. The police could not get the situation under control. The riots are considered to be the worst racist attacks in post-war German history up to that point.
Numerous federal politicians commented on the anniversary in advance, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). He called on citizens to fight hate speech and racism every day. He called the attacks a “terrible act”.
Steinmeier also wants to speak to students and residents on Thursday, visit a Buddhist-Vietnamese temple and give a speech at a memorial service in Rostock’s town hall in the evening.
The incumbent Mayor Bockhahn, who is also a historian, recently emphasized that there was certainly far more than one explanation for what happened in Lichtenhagen back then. Much must also be seen in the time and the circumstances of that time. “You will see that it was a catastrophe that was announced, but that cannot be excused. What happened at the end of August 1992 cannot be excused.”
Source: Stern
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