A Counter("We") Festival Stands Opposed to the Right-wing "Switchover" Book Fair in Halle
A Festival for an Open Society against the Lies, Hate, and Intolerance of the Right-wing Scene
Protest Festival Arranged in Contemplation of Liberal Book Fair Controversy in Halle
Cultural creators in Halle are planning a festival to counter the Switchover right-wing book fair, scheduled for November. The festival, named "We", aims to combat the spread of lies, hate, and incitement, fostering an open society instead.
Our website CULTURE - The RadioMi04.06.202515:30Uhr00:31 min
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Key Points
- The cultural creators have unified to protest the right-wing book fair Switchover with the festival "We".
- The festival will span from September to November 9, 2025, with various readings, discussions, and music events at different locations in Halle.
- Cultural creators from booksellers, illustrators, book artists, writers, translators, musicians, university members, and theater people have joined forces.
- Under the motto "We", the festival stands for civil courage, promoting an open society and countering the rise of hate and extremism.
- The Switchover book fair, scheduled on the grounds of the Halle fair, is considered a meeting point for the New Right scene, with questionable content and connections to controversial figures.
- The company running the exhibition hall where these events take place has faced criticism for right-wing extremist connotations and housing political events from across the spectrum, except for banned organizations.
The Fight for an Open Society
Bookstore owner and co-organizer Theresa Donner shared that the festival's goal is to celebrate freedom of speech in a colorful fashion while highlighting the importance of tolerance and countering hate speech. The declared goal of the Switchover book fair, on the other hand, is to provide a platform for right-wing publishers and conspiracy theorists.
Donner emphasized that civil courage is vital for an open society, and the "We" festival aims to show that it's not a privilege, but a foundation for a diverse and inclusive society.
The "Switchover" Book Fair: A Hub for the New Right Scene
The Switchover book fair was first planned to take place on November 8/9 on the Halle fair's grounds. It is considered a gathering point for the New Right scene, with ties to questionable individuals and organizations.
The organizer of the Switchover book fair, Buchhaus Loschwitz from Dresden, has faced criticism due to its ownership and connections to right-wing extremist figures. Despite this, the company and the exhibition hall it operates have argued that they are against censorship and promote a broad political and unpolitical range of exhibitors, as they are a regional monopoly and cannot discriminate based on ideological controls.
Mainstream Parties and Politicians Speak Out Against the Book Fair
Previous statements from various parties, including the Greens, Free Voters, Left, and SPD, have expressed concern about the book fair's ties to the right-wing scene. Halle's independent mayor, Alexander Vogt, has also been vocal about his unease. However, the AfD has publicly supported the event as part of a "freedom of opinion" commitment.
- The festival "We," opposing the right-wing "Switchover" book fair, is a significant platform for education-and-self-development, using various readings, discussions, and music events to foster an open society.
- Social media can be utilized to spread awareness and support for the "We" festival, encouraging civil courage and countering the rise of hate and extremism in politics, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, general-news, and entertainment.
- Public figures and politicians, including those from the Greens, Free Voters, Left, SPD, and independent Mayor Alexander Vogt, have expressed concern about the "Switchover" book fair's connections to the right-wing scene, highlighting the importance of promoting tolerance and diversity.
- Entertainment and culture can provide a powerful tool for social change, as demonstrated by the "We" festival, which stands against the questionable content and controversial figures associated with the "Switchover" book fair, promoting an open and inclusive society.
