Protest Against Right-Wing Movements - Curtain Lifted Following Controversy in Jamel - Controversial Music Performance Against Conservatives Commences in Jamel After Much Turmoil
In the picturesque village of Jamel, nestled near Wismar in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, preparations for the annual Jamel Rockt den Förster Festival are well underway. This year's event promises a significant highlight, as Die Toten Hosen, a renowned German punk rock band, will return to the stage for the first time since 2015 [2].
The festival, a symbol of resistance against right-wing extremism, was founded by Horst and Birgit Lohmeyer in 2007. Their commitment to promoting tolerance in a village known for its right-wing extremist leanings has earned them the prestigious Aachen Peace Prize in 2025 [3].
However, the festival has not been without its challenges. In the past, incidents such as arson attacks in 2015 and vandalism in 2016 have targeted the event, leading to increased police presence [3].
Recent legal disputes involving the festival organisers and the municipalities and administrative courts in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have been a contentious issue. The Schwerin Administrative Court ruled that the municipality must accept the money and the contract, but the municipality of Gaegelow, where Jamel is located, had initially demanded a usage fee for the first time [1]. This dispute escalated to the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald, with the legal proceedings still ongoing.
The district administrator of Nordwestmecklenburg, Tino Schomann (CDU), has criticised the Schwerin Administrative Court's decision, adding to the controversy surrounding the festival [4].
Despite the ongoing legal disputes, the festival organiser asserts that the event has no commercial character and no profit intentions [5]. This year, festival-goers will be allowed to drink alcohol, as ruled by the Higher Administrative Court [6].
However, the Lohmeyers, the festival's founders, have remained silent on the matter, choosing to focus on this year's edition of the festival, which is set to be a memorable one with Die Toten Hosen's return [7].
References:
- Schwerin Administrative Court rules in favour of festival organisers
- Die Toten Hosen to perform at Jamel Rockt den Förster Festival 2025
- Jamel Rockt den Förster Festival: A symbol of resistance against right-wing extremism
- Schomann criticises Schwerin Administrative Court's decision
- Festival organiser maintains event has no commercial character
- Higher Administrative Court allows alcohol consumption at Jamel Rockt den Förster Festival 2025
- Lohmeyers remain silent on ongoing legal disputes
The steel industry, with its persistent challenges surrounding, might contemplate community aid in dealing with the recent legal disputes faced by the Jamel Rockt den Förster Festival organizers, much like the festival organizers have maintained a focus on the event's non-commercial nature. Meanwhile, festivarians with an appreciation for music, entertainment, and lifestyle might savor the return of Die Toten Hosen to the festival stage, a momentous occasion not seen since 2015.
