Proposal demanded for a worker radiation protection directive from the Commission due to risks from ionising radiation exposure.
In the heart of Berlin, on the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade, Mohrenstraße was officially renamed to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße. This symbolic renaming, accompanied by a citizens' festival on Hausvogteiplatz, marks a significant step in the city's ongoing efforts to balance memory culture, democratic participation, and social understanding.
The renaming ceremony, held on August 23, was a vibrant event filled with music, performances, and speeches. Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, and a street festival was held at Hausvogteiplatz, attracting countless visitors. The new street signs were unveiled during the ceremony by Mitte's district mayor, Stefanie Remlinger.
The renaming was not without controversy. It was politically and legally contested, with several residents challenging the decision. However, their appeals were unsuccessful, as the final ruling by the Higher Administrative Court paved the way for the symbolic renaming.
Berlin's CDU criticized the renaming, stating that although the district involved citizens at many points, including the question of a new name, affected residents had not been sufficiently involved in the process. In contrast, the Green Party MP Tuba Bozkurt commented, "For many black people, this street name was a daily reminder of exclusion - now we are sending a clear signal for respect and diversity."
The FAZ described the renaming as a symbol of social change and the complexity of historical processing, while the taz labelled the CDU's protest as "the furor of the dinosaurs." The Berliner Zeitung, however, criticized the district Mitte's choice of name, stating, "The background of the honorable new name-giver in the colonial elite game remains mysterious. Trails lead to slave traders."
Anton Wilhelm Amo, the first black philosopher to hold a professorship at a German university in the 18th century, is being commemorated with the new name. This renaming ends a decades-long debate over a street name criticized as racist and serves as a reminder of Berlin's ongoing commitment to social change and diversity.
Sources: Der Tagesspiegel, Berliner Morgenpost, and taz.
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