A temporary open-air swimming pool in Berlin, established as an inclusive summer meeting spot, canceled a planned event that would have been exclusively for Black communities. The pool, located in front of the Volksbühne theater, was set to host the event on August 14, restricting access to the general public between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The Volksbühne theater stated that the decision to cancel the event, which was a collaboration with the anti-discrimination project Each One Teach One (EOTO), was due to "security concerns." The theater cited "the fact that swimming for Black children and teenagers has become the target of right-wing and racist harassment" as a factor in their decision.
The pop-up pool, costing €300,000 and open for eight weeks, was promoted as a symbol against exclusion and commercialization, offering free access to an estimated 20,000 visitors. However, the plan for a segregated day sparked anger among some Berliners, particularly as the project received public funding through the Volksbühne, which receives over €20 million annually from public funds.
This incident occurred shortly after a separate controversy at the Heidebad lakeside beach in Halle, eastern Germany. There, a lifeguard reportedly banned individuals from the lake who could not speak German, citing safety concerns after a near-drowning incident involving a toddler. The lifeguard, Mathias Nobel, stated that communication barriers prevented him from explaining safety rules effectively. While Nobel denied accusations of racism and emphasized the importance of listening to lifeguards, authorities in Halle urged him to reconsider the language policy, warning that such measures could damage the city's reputation.
The Halle incident drew attention from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which used the situation to criticize what it called a "loss of control" by the state. However, Nobel also faced criticism from the German life-saving association and the country's anti-discrimination agency, which noted the absence of reciprocal language rules for German tourists abroad.
The Volksbühne theater, a historic institution dating back to 1914, typically hosts around 130,000 visitors weekly across approximately 20 events. The theater has not provided further comment on the cancellation of the exclusive event.