Controversy about the festival - Correspondence from Landrat Schomann to Minister Schwesig
The annual "Jamel rocks the Förster" festival, a small event with a big mission, has found itself at the centre of a heated disagreement this year. Birgit Lohmeyer, co-founder of the festival, has made statements that Tino Schomann, the district administrator of Nordwestmecklenburg, considers to be "a serious and entirely unfounded defamation of the employees of the district administration".
Lohmeyer's criticisms have been directed at the public assembly office, with the festival's organisers expressing dissatisfaction over regulations and decisions. The dispute has escalated to such an extent that it has led to multiple legal proceedings.
Schomann, in response, has written an open letter to Manuela Schwesig, the Minister President of SPD, calling on her to take a stand on the allegations. The letter was likely penned in response to an interview Lohmeyer gave to "Katapult MV", in which she accused the public assembly office of "massive harassment".
In the same interview, Lohmeyer discussed regulations issued before the festival due to suspected nesting and protected red-bellied toads. She has since confirmed the authenticity of the interview.
Schomann, however, emphatically states that the district administration of Nordwestmecklenburg has decided according to the law, neutrally, and independently. He believes that Lohmeyer's blanket accusation of massive right-wing influence damages the personal and professional reputation of all those who work in Nordwestmecklenburg.
One of the most contentious issues has been the alcohol ban imposed by the public assembly office, which was ultimately judicially overturned. Lohmeyer claims that democracy-promoting projects that are critical are suppressed in administrations or local parliaments with more right-wing extremists.
The Lohmeyers founded the festival in 2007 with the aim of drawing attention to the strong right-wing structures in the village with fewer than 40 inhabitants. The escalation of the dispute this year is more severe than ever before, involving the organisers, the municipality, and the district.
As of now, a response from Manuela Schwesig regarding Schomann's letter is still pending. Lohmeyer's lawyers have also stated that they will make a statement regarding Schomann's criticism. The name of the lawyer who will represent Birgit Lohmeyer's statement regarding the accusations from Tino Schomann is not publicly available.
The dispute surrounding the "Jamel rocks the Förster" festival shows no signs of abating, with both parties entrenched in their positions. The situation serves as a reminder of the complexities and tensions that can arise in the administration of small-town festivals and the importance of maintaining open dialogue and mutual respect.
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