The renaming of the U-Bahn-Station: Soon no more of the moor road

the term "Mohr" racist, it means a devaluation of black people? Or is it a historical term that is not discriminatory? In Berlin, this dispute has gone on for many years to a possible renaming of the Mohr street in the centre of the capital, close to the Gendarmenmarkt. A final decision has not yet fallen. Now, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) have decided to make the metro station to rename. "As open to the world company and one of the largest employers in the capital of the BVG rejects any Form of racism or other discrimination," informed the transport companies. From understanding and respect to the controversial debate about the name we have decided not to use him more for the metro station. A spokeswoman for the BVG said, the current debate about racism and the death of George Floyd in the United States have promoted the decision.

Markus Wehner

Political correspondent in Berlin.

In the future, the metro will carry the Station, the name of Glinka street. The road also passes at the metro station, and is named after the Russian composer Mikhail Glinka was born in 1804 and 1857 in Berlin-died. Previously, the 1908-opened U had called-station until the 1950's in the Imperial court. In East Berlin, he was a Communist name: until 1986 it was called the Thälmann-Platz, until 1991, the Otto-Grotewohl-Straße, after the long-time Minister President of the GDR, before he was named to the moor road.

Lack of engagement with German colonial history

in particular, groups such as the Africa Council of Berlin, the Initiative of black people and colonial critical groups such as the Association of Berlin post-colonial challenge for years, the renaming of the Mohr street. Consider the concept of Mohr as discriminatory, and the retention of the street name as a result of a lack of engagement with racism, and German colonial history. With the support of the Greens and the Left. The green economy Senator Ramona Pop praised also the decision of the transport companies. With the renaming of the LPP set "a clear sign against discrimination," which is exactly the right place in the international and diverse city of Berlin.

in 2004, had applied for the left party, at that time, the PDS, in the district center, to change the name of Mohr road. The street sounds since 1707 on the name. How he came to be, has never been fully clarified, probably lived at the time, black musicians there. Historical circumstances also played no role, said Tahir Della of the Initiative of "Black people in Germany" a year ago, the F. A. Z. "what is Decisive is that the concept of black people is now perceived as discriminatory," said the activist from the black Community, which is called the Mohr road, only the "M-street". Eventually, the road will be renamed.

the activists may not be happy with the renaming of the metro station. Because they are calling that racist or of the colonial history of embossed names are replaced by names of people who have campaigned against racism and colonialism. The Berlin Green politician Özcan Mutlu criticized the announcement of the renaming. You would have the adjacent zieten place in Nelson Mandela place and George-Floyd-the place to rename a subway station is the same, he wrote on Twitter.