Are whites banned from entering a colonialism exhibition on Saturdays? There is a flood of comments online. The museum makes it clear: This is a request, not a ban.
An exhibition project in Dortmund about colonialism is causing debates – and is also a case for the police because of the sometimes questionable reactions.
In the LWL-Museum Zeche Zollern, the exhibition workshop “Das ist kolonial” has been running since the spring, with the special feature that the room is reserved for four hours on Saturdays as a so-called Safer Space for black people and people of color. A sign at the museum informs about this. “We want to give people affected by racism a safe space where they can retreat and exchange ideas openly,” said a spokeswoman for the Westphalia-Lippe regional association.
For a few days, the museum has been confronted with a flood of comments. Concerns, comments and criticism are taken seriously. However, one also prepares oneself legally for statements from the right-wing spectrum, some of which could possibly have a racist or personality-defeating character. Several media had reported.
Museum: Not a ban, but a request
The museum is accused by some voices, especially in social networks, of “racism against whites”. Some are annoyed and find it ostracizing that white people are supposedly not allowed to visit the exhibition on Saturdays, which runs until mid-October. The LWL underlined: “This is about four out of a total of 48 hours of opening time per week” – and about a smaller part of the museum. It’s not a ban, it’s a request. After months of no significant unrest, it is noticeable that massive disapproval has recently been called for on the Internet. Printouts of right-wing slogans were also attached to the gate of the museum, saying the police were involved.
“The case is being processed by state security,” said a police spokesman when asked by dpa. We are in close contact with the museum. For the next Safer Space this Saturday, he emphasized: “That’s what we’re focusing on.” The spokesman initially did not want to give any more specific information.
Source: Stern
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