1 year without Lorenz
It has now been almost a year since Lorenz was shot dead by police in the middle of Oldenburg city center on the night of Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Lorenz was hit by four shots, three of them from behind. Lorenz died from his injuries at the age of 21.
Lorenz was a son - a brother - a friend - a child of the city of Oldenburg - a part of our community. Many people knew, liked and loved Lorenz and miss him bitterly.
One year of protests against racism and police violence
Since then, thousands of us have been protesting in Oldenburg and across Germany against the brutal and racist police violence that took Lorenz's life.
The racist violence against Lorenz as a young Black man continues even after his death, especially in the press and on social media. The labeling and dehumanization of Black and racialized men as “dangerous” has life-threatening consequences for them, ranging from racial profiling to police violence and fatal shootings.
Lorenz's killing was not an exceptional case. The Death in Custody campaign recorded 266 deaths of “racially oppressed” people in custody, in detention, or due to police violence between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2024. According to the campaign, at least 23 people other than Lorenz died in custody, detention, or as a result of police violence last year, including Qabel in Nuremberg, Nelson in Ottweiler, and several others whose names are unknown.
One year without clarification, consequences, or justice
Even after his death, the racist condemnation of Lorenz continued at the Oldenburg police department. For weeks, investigations were conducted against the deceased Lorenz, who was even referred to as the perpetrator in some files. This is despite the fact that investigations against deceased persons are prohibited in Germany.
At the beginning of November, after a protracted investigation, the Oldenburg public prosecutor's office announced that it would bring charges against the police officer who shot Lorenz – for negligent homicide. We cannot understand why the public prosecutor's office is not pressing charges for manslaughter. It cannot be a negligent mistake to shoot a person who is running away multiple times. This was not an accident, not a tragic misunderstanding, but an injustice that must have consequences!
Even though the public prosecutor's office bringing charges is a step towards justice, we are aware that there is little chance that the police officer who shot Lorenz will face any consequences. We are reminded of the trial in Dortmund against the police officers who shot Mouhamed Lamine Dramé in Dortmund in 2022. They all got away without consequences, even though the court itself considered it proven that the police officers were not acting in self-defense.
And even if the police officer who shot Lorenz were convicted:
Lorenz remains dead. The police remain structurally racist.
That's why we must continue to speak out together and advocate for change!
Long Live Lorenz!
No Justice, No Peace!
Poster portrait format.
Landscape format poster. The QR code links to this page.