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I think you don’t belong here – CSD in Weissenfels, Burgenlandkreis

In recent days, I came across a video from the YouTube channel “Weichreite TV,” which once again made me shake my head. The creator, known for his independent reporting, published a compilation of his experiences at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Weißenfels, Burgenlandkreis, in 2023. The scenes shown reveal shocking insights into the behavior of those who advocate for tolerance and diversity – but often live the exact opposite themselves.

The video clearly shows how streamer Weichreite was not only insulted and verbally abused but also spat on, sprayed with water, pushed, and even threatened. A wave of hostility met him that was sharply ironic compared to the calls for acceptance and openness that are supposed to be promoted at such events. Several scenes also show demonstrators flipping him the bird, while the event marshals did not intervene.

I think you don’t belong here.

There was little constructive reaction even from political circles. Birke Bull-Bischoff, politician of the Left party, can be heard in the video telling Weichreite: “I think you don’t belong here. But if you want to put yourself through this, you can go ahead.” When Weichreite asked whether no one should actually be excluded from the event, no answer was given. The overall atmosphere of the video conveys clear rejection of the streamer.

Warning about a right-wing extremist streamer

Another incident is also documented in the video: A speaker – presumably Eric Steht, also from the Left party – explicitly warned about Weichreite in an announcement. He called him a “right-wing extremist streamer” and urged participants to be especially careful and not to look into his camera. He emphasized that the police apparently could not do anything against him, which he found incomprehensible. Here again, the streamer is portrayed as a threat, although he was only filming.

Restriction of press freedom

Particularly alarming is the course of the second video, in which at the end some participants demand that Weichreite be removed from the demonstration – on the grounds that he does not have a press card. This demand is remarkable because it points to a problematic attitude toward freedom of opinion and press work. The question arises: Do you need a press card to report on social events?

A live stream as the most honest form of journalism

Weichreite relies on live streams for his reporting – a form of journalism that one could argue is the most honest of all. A live stream documents events in real-time without the possibility of later editing or commentary to influence or shape what happened. This kind of reporting gives viewers the chance to form their own impression of the situation without journalistic framing or manipulation changing the perception.

Especially at CSD events, where diversity and transparency are promoted, one would expect that open and unfiltered documentation of the event would be welcomed. But Weichreite’s videos show that the exact opposite is the case. While streamers at protests by government critics or opposition groups often face no problems, he encounters rejection and distrust here. The impression arises that full transparency is not desired.

Press card – an instrument of control?

The fact that Weichreite was penalized for lacking a press card is a notable development. The question arises why a press card is considered necessary in this context at all. Historically, the press card has not only been a tool for legitimizing journalists but also for controlling them.

In authoritarian systems, the press card was often used as a means to regulate journalism and silence opposition voices. During the Nazi era in Germany, only journalists with a state-approved press card were allowed to report. Only those who reported in line with the regime received this official authorization. Critical voices were excluded, and access to information was controlled.

The same was true in the GDR: There, too, the press card was essential to work as a journalist. Only those loyal to the state who produced line-faithful reports had access to information and public events. Free reporting was unwanted, and the press card served to distinguish regime-loyal journalists from unwanted reporters.

Press freedom as a fundamental right

In democracies, press freedom is considered a fundamental right that should allow everyone to gather and disseminate information – regardless of whether they have an official press card or not. The demand for a press card, as heard in the second video from Weichreite, therefore recalls a form of control more familiar from authoritarian systems, where reporting is monitored and restricted.

The tolerance paradox – an apparent contradiction

In such cases, the so-called tolerance paradox is often brought up. This term, originating from philosopher Karl Popper, describes the dilemma of a tolerant society: How much intolerance can a tolerant society permit before it endangers itself? Popper argues that a society that allows unlimited tolerance risks being destroyed by intolerant groups. Therefore, it is necessary not to tolerate intolerance in order to protect the values of democracy.

But when does this legitimate concern turn into excessive intolerance? Weichreite’s videos clearly show that he is branded an unwanted observer by the demonstrators – not because he acts intolerantly himself, but because he films at demonstrations of other political groups as well. The fact that he documents neutrally and without cuts seems unwelcome in these circles. Instead of dialogue and confrontation, we see here the end of tolerance when it comes to dissenting opinions or the mere presence of unwelcome observers.

How genuine is the commitment to freedom of opinion and press among the pseudo-tolerant?

The experiences Weichreite filmed at the CSD in Weißenfels raise many questions about the state of our society and the handling of diversity of opinion. While some people demonstrate for tolerance and diversity, they simultaneously show astonishing intolerance toward those who have different views or merely want to report on them. That Weichreite was not only verbally attacked but also threatened speaks volumes about the state of discourse culture among the “pseudo-tolerant.”

A live stream as the most honest form of journalism offers the opportunity to document events without manipulation or distortion. Especially in times when transparency is demanded, this form of reporting should be seen as an enrichment, not a threat. One would expect that the participants and organizers of the CSD would have a great interest in showing their diversity and tolerance this way, ensuring no one is excluded and everyone is welcome. The hostility and the demand for a press card recall darker chapters of history, when press freedom was severely restricted and journalism was only possible with state approval.

The question remains how credible a movement can be that demands tolerance but simultaneously excludes dissenters or independent reporters. Genuine dialogue and freedom of opinion must not be stifled by intolerance – especially not when it comes to inconvenient opinions. Only in this way can a truly open and tolerant society exist.

Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | 30.09.2024

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