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Radio Free Bonnie: The Rise Of German Populism In The 21st Century

Lake Effect's Bonnie North is in Europe this month as part of a journalism fellowship through the RIAS Berlin Commission.  It's a program that exposes American journalists to the workings of European politics and media. 

Bonnie has been speaking with a variety of sources during her time in Germany, from international and domestic journalists to policymakers. She recently met with Ozcan Mutlu, a former Green Party member of the German parliament, to discuss Germany's political state - particularly the rise of right-wing populism.

“As long as the German majority doesn’t open their minds and their hearts for the reality of being an immigration country, being a multi-cultural society, nothing will change,” Mutlu says.

He adds, "The people who believe in equal rights, humanism, human rights, all the values our ancestors fought for - we have to stick together and fight these anti-democratic movements all over Europe, all over the world."

Bonnie joins Lake Effect's Mitch Teich on the line from Berlin to share her conversation with Mutlu, and begins by giving his political background, as well as the history of his Turkish neighborhood of Kreuzberg:

You can also follow Bonnie North's journey and see additional photos through her blog, Radio Free Bonnie, that she’s writing on location.

Bonnie North
Bonnie joined WUWM in March 2006 as the Arts Producer of the locally produced weekday magazine program Lake Effect.