After the removal of three left-wing bookshops from the list of nominees for the German Book Prize, resistance continues to form. The action network "Leipzig nimmt Platz" has called for a protest rally on Augustusplatz on the eve of the Leipzig Book Fair on March 18. "Those who exclude bookshops today will not stop at books tomorrow," the call said.
A state-imposed cultural policy is the hallmark of authoritarian regimes, according to the network. The action by the civil society alliance, which claims to be anti-fascist, is directed "against censorship and authoritarianism".
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer had the bookshops removed from the list due to "findings relevant to the protection of the constitution", causing massive criticism. In the meantime, he has also completely canceled the presentation of the German Bookstore Award at the Leipzig Book Fair, originally planned for March 19.
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