Employees of the Oktoberfest (Oktoberfest) in Munich have initiated a new initiative called "Employees Against Right-Wing Extremism" to demand more respect in their workplace. This group of employees, who work at the heart of the festival, spoke about disturbing experiences they have faced during the festival.
Employee Conditions at the Festival
The director of the Oktoberfest, Christian Scharf, announced midway through the festival that the first week had passed smoothly. Additionally, Verena Dittl, the deputy mayor of Munich, praised the good atmosphere and coordination at the event. However, employees report different conditions that are often not reflected in statistics. They expressed concern that some racist and discriminatory remarks have become unacceptably acceptable in this environment.
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Response to Increased Discrimination
This initiative has emerged following the electoral successes of the right-wing party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) in the Saxony-Anhalt region and the personal experiences of employees at the festival. Employees say that this situation reflects an increase in social acceptance of right-wing views. In a video they released on social media, they pointed out how some remarks have strangely become acceptable again in recent years.
A spokesperson for the vendors at the Oktoberfest emphasized in an interview that the festival's large family strongly rejects any form of discrimination, racism, and sexism and is committed to this issue. However, supporters of this initiative are calling for more action to address these problems.
Additionally, the Oktoberfest is monitored by 56 police surveillance cameras, and about 600 police officers and thousands of private security staff are stationed at the site. Midway through the festival, police have recorded about 470 offenses, including cases of assault, sexual harassment, and covert photography.
The Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe each year. Midway through the festival, the number of visitors is estimated to be around 3.8 million. The festival will continue for 16 days until October 4.
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