Statement by Dr Sunny Omwenyeke, Bremen Solidarity Centre (BreSoC) e.V at the Solidarisch in der Migrationsgesellschaft event on 8th February 2024 in Oldenburg.
I thank the organisers for inviting me, and following up on the Berliner Declaration. Thank you too for providing this space to discuss a topic I consider very important and I hope that this evening, we’ll be able to have some needed critical exchange about it.
First, I would like to acknowledge the importance of the Berliner Declaration for essentially starting this discussion at this level and I hope this discussion will be held through the breadth and length of this country.
I share and welcome the call for solidarity with migrant communities, but I must say that by “solidarity”, we mean real solidarity – one where we take the problems of the “Others” as our problem, and which must be solved. This is different from solidarity of convenience or what I call performance solidarity which are often our experience with most white supporters.
Still, I beg to differ from the crux of this intervention this evening; that is, defending migration/migrant society. For me, migration needs no defence, because it has innate and in-built self defence mechanism. This is why there is hardly any country in the world – both in the so-called global North or in the South for that matter, that has been able to stop migration. So, be rest assured that Germany/Europe in general are guaranteed to fail woefully, in their efforts at war on migration.
And we have to remember, it is not too long ago that Germany was begging migrants to come here and work, and help build this country after its disastrous quest to control Europe ended in 1945. Even today as we speak here, Germany cannot care for its aged population without migrant workers. This is why Germany is relying on caregivers from outside of Germany to help solve this problem. We are not even getting started on how dirty your homes and offices would be without migrants cleaning up your mess, not to mention who would pick your fruits and vegetables. You want to vilify migrants? I challenge you, bring it on!
So, migration is not the problem. Then what is the problem? In my view, the foundational problem is white supremacy and racism. The very idea and concept, ideology and practice that white people are superior to other races (sorry, I use “race” here for lack of better term). This, coupled with the insatiable greed of the so-called Western countries are the root of all the problems we have.
State apparatus, societal institutions, socio-economic, political and cultural structures are all built to advance the smooth implementation of white supremacist ideology. This implementation is sometimes done in a very subtle way but at other times, quite brazenly, and if necessary, violently. The result is that the populace is socialised with a sense of superiority to the “Others”, which is then consciously or subconsciously internalised and from this develops the mentality that the “Others” are inferior.
Once socialised in this white dominant society with the mentality described above, it is easy to understand why majority of white people in this country not only tolerate, but accept and justify the inhumanity, violence and brutality that are inflicted daily on Blacks and People of Colour in this country. These daily attacks are perpetuated not only by random members of the public, but by political office holders, state institutions including the police amongst many others. And all these with hardly any consequence for the perpetrators.
A few examples will suffice here: Police brutality – Oury Jalloh – burnt alive in a police cell in Dessau, Laye Condè and John Achidi killed by the police and doctors with Brechtmittel in Bremen and Hamburg, Mariam Sarr, shot and killed by the police in Aschaffenburg, Christy Schwundeck, shot and killed by the police at the job Centre in Frankfurt, Dominique Koumadio in Dortmond, Ahmed, Qusay, Idrissi…the list goes on – all people of colour and killed by the police. Not only is there no uproar by the populace over these senseless killings, the police remain one of the most popular institutions for white Germans because they can execute the violent wish of the populace on their behalf – yes, most white people like what they see the police do to the “Others”. It is the practise of white supremacist ideology; it is racism and that is the problem.
For those who are familiar with The VOICE Refugee Forum and the Caravan – for the rights of refugees and migrants, you will know that we have fought for refugee rights and equal opportunities for 30 years now. For the first time ever, this wish was granted for Ukrainian refugees when the war with Russia started. This even included Train tickets from Ukraine and neighbouring countries to come over here. The white Ukrainians came here and were settled but the African refugees – who fled the same war and bombs were denied those opportunities. You can cast a glance at the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea for those starving to death and drowning in distress, but they are not white and so, it is alright they perish there. What’s more? Well-meaning civilians who try to rescue them are criminalised and prosecuted all across Europe. Where is the outrage in this society? None, because they’re not white.
One final example. At the height of Corona, everyone was forced to observe social distance. In Bremen, some people were even fined for not keeping it. But there in Bremen refugee camps, like in many other cities, hundreds of refugees were crammed into the same building - some up to 6 people in a room with windows that could not be open. They even had to take water from the sink in the toilet to drink because none was provided in their rooms. All these were accepted because, refugees like all others who are not white Germans are considered inferior to white Germans. As such, their treatment is “not so bad”, “not inhumane” as I was told by a retired Professor in Vegasack, Bremen. Now, is there a surprise that there was no uproar? No, because this is fully acceptable and the normality of white-non-white relationship in Germany is based on white supremacist mentality. A normality that is full of violence in words and in deeds.
Still on corona, a vaccine was developed and tested here. Drawing from its initial use, the authorities reached the conclusion that the side effects were too harmful and therefore, it was decided not to be used here anymore. What did the Germans do? They donated the vaccine and shipped it to Africa. What do you think they expect of that poisonous gesture? Your guess is as good as mine!!! The simple message was unmistakable: It may be bad for us but it is good enough for the “Other”.
To round up on what I think the problem is, are the events all across the country since the recent release of the secretly recorded meeting by The Corrective. On the one hand it is good to see some reactions in the form of massive demonstrations to a kind of wake-up call that the recording elicits. On the other hand, it is sad to re-confirm this and realise how tone deaf this society has been to our cries and yearnings for three decades. For 30 years, refugees and refugee groups have been warning you, educating you on the dangers posed by the continuities of National Socialist legacies and how we are being treated. Majority simply failed to listen. Of the few that listened, most of them could not get it and even those that kind of got it, sometimes said we were exaggerating. Suddenly, a blueprint is laid out with clear outlines that erases any doubt whatsoever about their intention, and now, people hold their heads in their hands because they are surprised. Surprised for what, why? For most of us who have been on the trenches on this issue for decades, there is absolutely no surprise because we have been made to live and experience these threats as reality for a long time. Inhumanity, violence, police brutality, mass camps and deportations have we lived in your presence. Yet, you closed your eyes and you blocked your ears to our cries.
What’s more? Politicians who are already executing the very inhumane, odious and obnoxious policies that the extreme right are advocating today, are streaming to the street to join demonstrations and condemn the plans. Are they serious? Who are they deceiving? They are certainly not deceiving the migrants or refugees because we can see through their doublespeak, hypocrisy and cowardice.
So, if there’s hope for this country at this moment, that hope comes from the light that the migrants and refugees are shinning on the fundamental problem in this country.
Thank you for your attention.