Karoline Preisler
Karoline Preisler (born 3 July 1971 in East Berlin) is a German politician and lawyer known for her counter-protests at pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, and neo-Nazi demonstrations in Berlin.[1]
Karoline Preisler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 3, 1971 Berlin, Germany |
| Occupation(s) | politician, lawyer |
Education and career
[edit]Preisler attended high school in Berlin and studied law at the University of Potsdam. From 2004 to 2012 she worked as a lawyer in Berlin and subsequently in Barth, Germany. Preisler joined the Free Democratic Party in 2013 and was initially active in local politics. From 2014 to 2023 she was chairwoman of the Arno Esch Foundation, a party-affiliated foundation of the FDP Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.[2]
Counter-protests during coronavirus pandemic
[edit]Preisler, according to her own statements, attended demonstrations whose goals she did not share in order to seek direct contact with demonstrators and engage in dialogue with them. She began with "one-woman counter-demonstrations" during the COVID pandemic. According to the Taz newspaper, she became a "target for lateral thinkers, Reich citizens, and Islamists".[3]
In March 2020, Preisler became infected with the coronavirus. She was initially quarantined at home with her children and then treated in a clinic. She reported on the course of the illness and the accompanying symptoms in a "corona diary" on Twitter.[4]
At demonstrations against the coronavirus measures, Karoline Preisler presented herself as a 'voice of reason,' "who distinguished herself from the crowd of demonstrators through her level-headed demeanor and could rely on the authority of her own experience". This made her a "recovered activist". She deliberately exposed herself to confrontation with supporters of opposing beliefs. Her demeanor had a "missionary appeal".[5]
Protests at demonstrations after October 7, 2023
[edit]
At pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and subsequent war, Preisler protested with signs addressing the gender-based and sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.[6] She regularly displayed a sign reading "Rape is not resistance", "Believe Israeli Women" and photos of the German-Israeli Shani Louk, who was kidnapped, raped and killed in a Hamas terrorist attack.[6] According to the Tagesspiegel, her 'trademark' at the demonstrations is "bouquets of flowers, cardboard signs and bright coat colors".[7] She protests alone and usually stands on the sidelines. Her goal is "to engage in dialogue with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, to explore the lowest common denominator, and to explore common ground despite all the controversies".[8] Preisler decided on this form of protest "a long time ago" following an NPD rally against an asylum shelter.[7]
She was threatened,[9] spat upon, harassed and beaten at pro-Palestinian demonstrations and therefore had to be protected by the police.[10]
During a neo-Nazi march through Berlin-Mitte in February 2025, Preisler stood in front of a neo-Nazi and held up a sign with the slogan "Against Antisemitism", while holding a bouquet of flowers in her other hand.[11]
Awards
[edit]2024 Eugen Kogon Prize[12]
Publications
[edit]Enduring Democracy! On Arguing in a Society of Outrage. Hirzel, Stuttgart, 2021. ISBN 978-3-7776-2944-5
Personal life
[edit]Preisler was in a relationship with Bundestag member Hagen Reinhold and has four children. She is not Jewish or Israeli.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Uniyal, Vijeta (2025-01-02). "Karoline Preisler: How One German Woman Stands Up To Antisemitic Hate". Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ "Karoline Preisler: "Barth is close to my heart"". OZ - Ostsee Zeitung (in German). 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Baumgärtel, Tilman (2024-07-15). "FDP politician on demonstration activism: "Sometimes there are many conversations"". taz.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Grieshaber, Kirsten (2020-03-17). "Dear Corona Diary: German patient gives updates on Twitter". AP News. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Gräf, Dennis; Hennig, Martin (2024-10-28). Corona and Media Publics (in German). Wiesbaden: Springer VS. p. 84. ISBN 978-3-658-45502-6.
- ^ a b c "'Germany's bravest protester' supports Israel on her own, surrounded by pro-Palestinian demonstrators". All Israel News. 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ a b Ide, Robert (2024-08-21). "I am the mosquito in the bedroom: Interview with activist Karoline Preisler". Tagesspiegel Checkpoint (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ "Among Islamists and anti-Semites. This Berliner is Germany's bravest demonstrator". B.Z. – Die Stimme Berlins (in German). 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ "Nakba Day: Forbidden slogans and pyrotechnics – Police investigate charges after Palestine demonstration". DIE WELT (in German). 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Mediengruppe, FUNKE (2025-03-19). "Berlin-Mitte: FDP politician Karoline Preisler attacked at demonstration". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Nowak, Peter (2025-02-23). "Antifascists block neo-Nazis: With protest signs and bouquets of flowers". taz.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-04.
- ^ Fritzen, Florentine (2025-04-02). "Winner of the 2024 Eugen Kogon Prize". FAZ.NET (in German). Retrieved 2025-04-04.