Freiheit, die ich meine: Gefahren für die Demokratie - mit Kay Voges, Markus Ogorek und Lena Heising

If you believe Donald Trump and his minions in the US government, freedom of speech is under threat in Europe. Regulations on the internet, stricter penalties for hate speech or certain political statements have strangled free speech. There are indeed developments in our country that should give us pause for thought. However, they do not stem from what bothers Trump's ideologues. Physical attacks on journalists make the work of the media more difficult. Targeted campaigns and shitstorms are aimed at silencing unpopular positions. In eastern Germany in particular, the AfD is openly obstructing free reporting. In Saxony-Anhalt, there is also the threat of a culture war of unprecedented proportions if the AfD comes to power after the state elections on September 6. The goal is a "neutral", depoliticized art.

How endangered is our freedom? How can liberal democracy be defended? What prospects would an AfD ban have? To mark "Press Freedom Day" at the beginning of May, representatives from the fields of law, culture and media will be discussing these issues in the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" workstage.

Markus Ogorek is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Cologne and an expert on all questions relating to the legal and political handling of the AfD.

Kay Voges, director of the Kölner Schauspiel, has repeatedly brought investigative research on the AfD to the stage. He stands for the socio-political responsibility of theater and art.

Lena Heising is a reporter for the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger". One focus of the award-winning journalist's work is investigative research on the AfD.

Joachim Frank, chief correspondent of the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger", will moderate the event.

The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger workstage, Amsterdamer Straße 192, 50735 Cologne, is easily accessible by public transport (line 13/16, stop Amsterdamer Straße/Gürtel). Free parking is available in the parking lot next to the publishing house.