Racism in Germany. Killing of Gambian in Tübingen. The Gambian migrant community in Germany has expressed outrage and disappointment over comments made by Mayor Boris Erasmus Palmer of Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen for suggesting that a Gambian killed in the city was a drug peddler.
What comments did Mayor Boris Erasmus Palmer make regarding the Killing of a Gambian in Tübingen?
Basiru Jallow, a Gambian man was murdered last week and soon after the news broke, Mayor Boris Erasmus Palmer wrote the following comment on his Facebook Page:
“According to police, the man who was killed with a knife was a 23-year-old Gambian. The perpetrator is on the loose in the heart of the city on the bright side of day. The crime scene is right where I took this picture; it is the site of the open drug scene mostly run by refugees from The Gambia. I have always urged the police to fight them as hard as possible, but it’s very difficult for refugees.
Petty crime is not enough for deportation. The financial gain is so great that arrests and a few days in jail have been calculated, and often the young men have to send the money home. They get sent off for this.”
Mayor Boris also said the police mostly succeeded in preventing drug peddling when they took out drug depots or apprehended the suppliers.
25 Gambians to be deported from Europe, says Gambia Refugees Association
What were the reactions to Mayor Boris Erasmus Palmer’s words?
Reacting to these comments, Yahya Sonko, a Gambian migration activist in Baden-Württemberg addressed the mayor with the following comments:
“It is very unfortunate that you make such a discriminatory statement against my homeland, The Gambia and towards Gambians. You didn’t only discriminate against Gambians, but you went too far to even allege that they send drug money to their homeland, which you have no proof of. The police preliminary report didn’t indicate that the deceased was a drug dealer, but here you as mayor, instead of waiting for full details from the police, you are drawing conclusion.”
Sonko also told the mayor that Gambians are a very hardworking, talented and obedient people.
He warned the mayor that each time governments and other authorities use racism and discrimination for political ends, “they are playing with fire”.
“Official tolerance and a tacit green light for racial discrimination can fuel tensions and this has played out catastrophically throughout history. We do not need reminding you that racism and discrimination can be steps on the way to conflict,” Sonko told the mayor.
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