Berlin Stories

Fundraisers for Gaza 

Gaza continues to be bombed, with no food or humanitarian aid allowed into the Strip since March. The Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has now lasted over 19 months. In solidarity with Palestinians and to support those on the ground, Arkaoda, Tennis Bar and Kühlhaus are hosting fundraisers over the coming weeks.

On Sunday, 18 May, Arkaoda will host a fundraiser as part of the POTENTE pop-up series. The event begins at 13:00 with a paella and tapas lunch and daytime hangout, followed by a DJ lineup playing until midnight. Also on 18 May, Make Freedom Ring is organising a benefit concert at Kühlhaus Berlin in support of Medico International, raising emergency funds for Gaza. Starting at 19:30, the show features performances by artists Raúl da Costa, Ibrahim Alshaikh, Bowrain, among others, and speeches by members of the Association of Palestinian and Jewish Academics. 

On 22 May, the initiative Juden und Homosexuelle für Palästina will host a “Mathematical” market and show fundraising for Osama, a Black Gazan survivor. The event starts at 18:00 at Tennis Bar Berlin and features performances by Hermes, Marbelite, XANAXFURRY, and others.

Stop deportation prison in Schönefeld

Plans are underway to build a deportation prison near Berlin’s BER airport, designed to detain 156 people facing deportation. Before the construction can begin, the Schönefeld district must approve it. Until 20 May, you can email the representatives of the district – regardless of whether you live there or not – and call on them to stop the construction of the deportation prison. Abolish Deportation Prisons has put together a template that you can email to the representatives. Find it here.

XJAZZ! Festival

From 14 to 18 May, it is XJAZZ! season in Berlin. The renowned festival showcases some of the most interesting local and international talents in jazz and beyond. This year artists include Jembaa Groove, Yukimi, Moor Mother, among others. You can listen back to the shows with the organisers and artists, who joined Refuge Worldwide ahead of the festival. Tickets for the whole festival or day passes are available here. 

Trans rights protests on IDAHOBIT

17 May marks International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. In Berlin, a protest will take place at 13:00 in front of the US Embassy, Pariser Platz 2. In the light of the recent transphobic ruling in the UK and Donald Trump’s political mobilisation against trans rights. The protest especially highlights the importance of protecting and fighting for trans lives. Donations will also be collected for Cleo, a Black trans woman currently incarcerated in Berlin. Another protest begins at 15:00 in front of the Hungarian Embassy, denouncing the Budapest Pride ban imposed by the Hungarian Parliament in March. From 18:00, OYA Bar is hosting a community gathering with performances, DJ Sets, food, and film screenings. This is a community event for queer, trans and BiPoC individuals – please be mindful of how you take up space.

Nakba Day demo

15 May marks Nakba Day – the 77th anniversary of the mass displacement and ethnic cleansing of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland during the founding of the Israeli state between 1947 and 1949. This year, it is the second Nakba Day during Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. In Gaza and the West Bank, the occupation continues, but so does the resistance. Join us at the demonstration in Berlin on 15 May, beginning at 16:00 at U-Bahn Südstern. The German state continues to heavily police and exert violence against voices in solidarity with Palestine – take care of yourself and others.

Fiestuki returns to Weserstraße

On 17 May, the Fiestuki crew returns to Oona Bar for a takeover with fresh finds from contemporary electronic Latin American sounds. Fiestuki is a Latinx queer collective based between Mexico and Berlin organising parties by and for queer Latinx people. Drop by to hang out from 20:00.  

e13 community space available for rent

The aequa’s e13 community space in Wedding is seeking a new tenant. e13 is a queer-run project space for mutual support and solidarity was previously run by community member Sarj Lynch, who is also involved with Refuge Worldwide. If your collective needs a new space, you can find more information here and apply until 27 May.

MADANii release concert

Berlin-based artist MADANii releases her debut solo EP “BiiLINGUAL” on 16 May, performing a release show the same day at Kantine am Berghain. In her music and art, MADANii merges a spectrum of influences ranging from traditional Persian sounds to electronic pop, RnB, and reggaeton. “BiiLINGUAL” also marks MADANii’s first time singing Farsi, and a new chapter in her musical career. The concert will be opened by Seniah at 20:00. Get your tickets here.

The Jamaican fundraiser

On 16 May, a pop-up fundraiser at Crazy Bastard Kitchen (Westerstr. 168) takes place to raise funds to find the catering service The Jamaican a permanent restaurant. From 17:00, enjoy a dinner of fried chicken, waffles, jerk chicken, tofu, and more. Come spend your money on good food and help cover costs for a permanent home for The Jamaican restaurant.

Court rules against the deportation of pro-Palestine activists

In a major win, a Berlin court ruled against the deportation of the four pro-Palestinian activists, who faced deportation by the German authorities for their involvement in the occupation of Humboldt University. The court did not find that the requirements for a deportation were met.

Freedom for Consuelo fundraiser

Consuelo, a Black trans man from Spain, has been unlawfully detained by German authorities in Pankow since 3 April. After being stopped by the police without reason and just moving his car slightly, he was arrested. The police repeatedly accused him of using a fake ID and misgendered him. Consuelo is currently being held in the women’s unit of Pankow prison, where he is expected to remain for 3 months until trial. A fundraiser has been started to call attention to this injustice and to raise money for lawyer, trial costs, and bills. Donate here.

Cura Guardianships is looking for volunteer guardians

For 10 years, the Cura Guardianship Association has been providing support for  unaccompanied refugee minors. They now urgently look for more volunteer guardians in the Berlin region. Guardians will act as the legal representative for their ward providing not only legal and social support, but offer guidance as a safe space for minors to pave paths for a new life. Currently, Germany receives the largest asylum seeking applications from unaccompanied minors — with a guardian, these minors do not have to navigate their path alone. Here are the upcoming dates for the guardian training. More info here. 

Gyrovision V fundraiser

Goofy european politics podcast Corner Spatï and Irish Bloc team up once again this year for Gyrovision V. 

Boycotting Eurovision for their stance beside Israel, Gyrovision serves as an alternative gathering where dancers can still listen to their favourite Eurovision tunes while fundraising. All proceeds will go to Heal Palestine – providing aid to people in Gaza, and The Ghassan Abu Sittah Children's Fund – providing aid to children in critical condition and their guardians in Lebanon. On 18 May from 18:00-22:00, the two communities in solidarity with Palestine come together to curate an evening of “absurd music” and discussions. More info here. 

Fanon - On Violence and Decolonisation

Join a panel of decolonial historians and writers, including Emilia Roig on discussions on systems of colonisation, focusing on the life and works of  political philosopher Frantz Fanon – one of the most influential post-colonial writers of the 20th century whose works set the basis for decolonial movements worldwide. As colonisation continues to dictate both political and social life today and systems of violence persist, learn about the ways in which colonial practices continue to shape contemporary politics today, as well as how decolonial justice can be reached in the future. The discussion will take place on 16 May from 19-21:00. More info here. 

Outrageous statements at Deutscher Filmpreis

At this year’s Deutscher Filmpreis (the German Film Awards), German musician Wolf Bierman claimed: “Israelis will never forgive the Palestinians for turning their sons (soldiers) into murderers”. This statement reflects a twisted narrative, which time and time again is being reproduced by the German media and press, painting Israel as the victims of the war in Gaza while erasing Palestinian suffering. Such statements contradict the months of documentation by NGOs and journalists exposing the mass killing of Palestinians by the Israeli army. The lack of pushback against the statement on one of the largest film award stages, shows the ongoing and intentional misrepresentation of what is happening in Gaza. Actress Jasmin Shakeri called this out in an Instagram post. 

ADIRA Party

ADIRA party returns on the 16 May with a very special edition, inviting renowned Lebanese drag queen Bassem Feghali. ADIRA is an Arabic Queer party series by xanax_attax and Hassandra. The party is about music and performance aimed to create a safe space for Arabic queers, always with elements of surprise and no shortage of fun. The line-up includes DJ sets by Hanoosh, xanax_attax, and DumTak, with an exciting drag performance by Bassem Feghali with Hassandra and Ahmed Baba. Join ADIRA at Gretchen on 16 May; more info here. 

Body Cartographies Workshop

At the intersection of multiple minorities, the diasporic queers experience the body in a different way than most.  As such, it becomes necessary to explore how the queer migratory experience shapes our bodies and stories – as sites of discovery, of learning and unlearning, and of love. Through the practice of cartography – of mapping the body, one can better understand how the migratory process affects their identity. On 19 May from 18-19:30 at We Are Village, Yusa and Sabrina will be guiding an evening of exploration, teaching how one can use movement, art, and writing as tools for embodiment. More info here.

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Cover Photo by XJAZZ!

Photos by Gyrovision, ADIRA, and XJAZZ!