Open letter to the SPD parliamentary group and the SPD party executive committee in Frankfurt am Main: We demand consistent action against statements made by city councilor Thomas Bäppler-Wolf!

As the umbrella organization of the migrant organizations DaMigra e. V., with our letter today we would like to point out the repeated racist statements made by the SPD city councilor Thomas Bäppler-Wolf. DaMigra has been consistently campaigning nationwide for a diverse society based on feminist-anti-racist principles for 10 years. 

Racism, sexism and right-wing extremism are increasingly found in the middle of German society and have their breeding ground there. Racism is structurally anchored and endangers our democracy. As Chancellor Olaf Scholz says: “Our democracy is not God-given. It is man-made. She is strong when we support her. And she needs us when she is attacked.”

It is the alleged polemical statements, like those made by Bäppler-Wolf, racism packaged as humor or satire, supposedly funny sayings that pave the way for anti-democratic forces.

Sedition is not humor. The acts of violence in Halle, Hanau, Mölln, Solingen and Lichtenhagen show what consequences such an inhumane ideology can have. According to VBRG (Association of Advice Centers for Those Affected by Right-Wing, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence), at least five people in Germany become victims of right-wing, racist or anti-Semitic violence every day.

The outrage over Bäppler-Wolf's comments is particularly great in a city like Frankfurt, where around 175 nationalities live. Frankfurt is not only an important hub for international companies and advertises its cosmopolitanism, the metropolis is not far from Hanau and has therefore experienced a terrible day of racist violence practically on its doorstep. How can a social democratic party that is committed to anti-racism tolerate such statements? A party whose member Mike Josef was even elected mayor and himself has a migrant background should take a clear stance on such statements.

It is extremely regrettable that neither the party executive nor the parliamentary group executive has so far publicly and firmly condemned these statements - on the contrary, conciliatory voices are speaking out, such as parliamentary group leader Ursula Busch. Especially in times of shift to the right, it is crucial that all democratic forces act together to consciously take action against right-wing extremism, racism and discrimination in our society. The SPD can – and should – send a signal!

The demand that these statements neither be relativized nor tolerated “as comedy” goes without saying, as we understand it. We also demand that Bäppler-Wolf resign from the party or – should this active step not be taken – give him membership is withdrawn. His exclusion from the group should finally be requested!

Board of Directors/Management DaMigra e. v.