Employees of the Oktoberfest festival in Munich, one of the largest folk festivals in the world, have launched a new initiative titled "Employees Against Right-Wing Extremism" calling for mutual respect at this event. This initiative aims to raise awareness about inappropriate and discriminatory behaviors that employees face while serving visitors.
Relaxing Atmosphere at the Festival
Christian Scharf, the director of the Oktoberfest, said midway through the event: "The first week went smoothly." Verena Dittl, the deputy mayor of Munich, also described the festival atmosphere as "good and harmonious." Munich police reports at the halfway point of the festival have also been assessed positively.
Read more: Oktoberfest Munich Employees Demand More Respect
Challenges Faced by Employees
However, service employees at the festival present a different picture of the existing conditions. They say that inappropriate and discriminatory behaviors, including racist remarks, have increased at this event. These behaviors are often not recorded in statistics, and therefore, the real challenges faced by employees are not accurately reflected.
In a video shared on social media, employees pointed to a concerning situation, stating: "For years, we have observed that some things have become acceptable again, and protests against them have decreased." They believe that the electoral successes of the right-wing party in Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt, along with their personal experiences at Oktoberfest, have led to the formation of this initiative.
In an interview with Bavarian public radio, one of the spokespersons for the festival vendors emphasized that "the Oktoberfest family has always strongly rejected any form of discrimination, racism, and sexism." However, supporters of this new initiative are calling for more serious actions to address these issues.
Monitoring and Statistics of Violations
The Oktoberfest is monitored by 56 police surveillance cameras and about 600 police officers, along with thousands of private security staff. At the halfway point of the festival, the police recorded approximately 470 violations, including cases of assault, sexual harassment, and hidden filming.
The Oktoberfest, recognized as the largest folk festival in the world, attracts millions of visitors from around the globe each year. At the halfway point of this festival, the number of visitors is estimated to be around 3.8 million. This festival will conclude on October 4 after 16 days of joy.
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