Experiences of Victimization by Migrants and Refugees in Brandenburg

Abstract

Based on the observations of the victim support organisation ‘Opferperspektive’ the effects of racist violence on migrants and refugees in Brandenburg are outlined. It is argued that racist violence has to be seen in a context of several factors influencing the victim experience: the reaction of bystanders, police behaviour, justice, reactions by local authorities, racist discrimination by ordinary citizens and institutional racism. The interaction of those factors generated a collective victimization of asylum seeker communities in some places. Different types of reaction by those communities are described: retreat and the creation of ‘no-go areas’, suppression and political action. Finally, the chances of state programmes combating racist violence are assessed regarding the continuance of everyday and institutional racism.