60
Years after "Kristallnacht" Pogrom
9
November 1998
International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism
Linked
through UNITED, the European network against racism, more than
500 organisations from all European countries work together.
UNITED coordinated the activities around 9 November on a European
level, it initiated and inspired action, provided information
and campaign material. Post cards and posters have supported
the actions of campaigners from Finland to Croatia and from Portugal
to Russia. Through continuously updated lists of activities (on
Internet and on paper) journalists and campaigners have been
provided with overviews of activities and contact addresses.
On
9 November protesters have assembled in many of the bigger towns
in Europe. In Sweden torches have been lit, as a symbol for the
engagement of a large part of Swedish society to diversity. In
more than eleven towns in the Netherlands vigils have been held
and debates have been started. In Great-Britain the commemoration
was the start of a national Refugee Week. In Poland special concerts
marked the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism.
In many cities and towns around Germany public commemoration
meetings have taken place.
For
many in Europe the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht"
pogrom of 9 November has a deeper meaning than just looking back.
Although the campaign sees big differences between the governments
of today and the one in Nazi Germany, it is easy to compare certain
aspects of our situation to the situation in 1938. Refugees have
nowhere to turn to. Violence against minorities is becoming commonplace,
especially against Roma. The extreme right is gaining power in
the democratic arena. And through all these trends, anti-Semitism
is raising its ugly head.
Through
massive e-mail protests against the Croatian and Yugoslav government
NGOs have shown their solidarity with NGOs in those countries.
Authoritarianism hinders the development of independent NGOs,
independent media and democratic opposition.
Especially on 9 November, when we remember what anti-democratic
powers can lead up to, protest has been appropriate.
"KRISTALLNACHT" POGROM
On
9 November, named the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism,
we commemorate the "Kristallnacht" pogrom of 1938.
On November 6th, Herschel Grynszpan, a Jew who was angry with
the increasingly repressive measures being adopted in Germany
against Jews, took revenge by shooting the diplomat Ernst vom
Rath at the German embassy in Paris. The diplomat died two days
later and news of his death reached Germany on Novermber 9th.
This started a massive nation-wide pogrom, secretly organised
by a section of the Nazi party, which left many Jews dead in
the streets, and hundreds of Jewish businesses and synagogues
destroyed. It marked the beginning of the Holocaust, the systematic
murder of 6 million Jews, over a million Roma and Sinti, gay
people as well as communists, trade unionists and many others.
CAMPAIGN REPORT 1998
This
report only shows a small selection of the events that took place,
compiled from reports, press cuttings, photographs, posters and
leaflets sent to the UNITED secretariat by the participating
organisations. Please note that the accompanying texts refer
only to those reports. Of course, many other actions took place
in those and other countries too. Unfortunately we are not able
to report on those.
Many organisations have contributed to the campaign in a modest
way, by spreading press releases or notes to all addresses in
their database or they have sent protest letters to the Croatian
and Yugoslav authorities.
9 NOVEMBER 1999
Next year there will be another International Day Against
Fascism and Anti-Semitism. Themes will include "resistance
against exclusion". If you have suggestions, if you would
like to be kept informed or you plan to contribute to the campaign:
Let us know!
List
of Activities
International
Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism 1998
INTERNATIONAL
09.11.98
"Never Again: 60 Years after 'Kristallnacht'" -
Media Action, Information Exchange, Motivation, Campaign Material,
Internet Action. Themes: rise of the extreme-right in Europe,
violence against minorities, exclusion of refugees, fascist tendencies
in Yugoslavia and Croatia. Coordinated by UNITED for Intercultural
Action
AUSTRIA
08.11.98
"Fighting Racism and Fascism" - Special TV Broadcast
of "Heimat, fremde Heimat" in Wien. Organised by ORF
Minorities Office.
08.11.98
"Kristallnacht" - Radio Broadcast by Radio Orange
(alternative radio station in Wien).
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Wien at
the "Aspangerbahnhof-monument" (deportation-place during
the Holocaust) with 200 participants. Organised by Revolutionsbrauhof
and Youth against Racism in Europe, Austrian branch.
07-09.11.98
"Kristalltag" - Art-Installation on Internet
and in Wien (http://www.ta-art.com/kristalltag). Organised by
T.A. Koordinationsbüro.
08.11.98
"Recht ist nicht Rache" - Matinee in the Wiener
Volkstheater. Remembrance with survivors of the Holocaust. Organised
by B-project and Verband Wiener Volksschulbildung.
BELGIUM
07.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Antwerpen
with movie of Lydia Chagoll, debates, discussions, concert of
band Al Harmoniah and afterwards a party... Organised by Anti
Faschistisch Front.
around 09.11.98
"Commemoration Trip to Auschwitz" - Trip of
politicians with survivors and children of victims of the Shoah.
Organised by Comité de Coordination des Organisations
Juives de Belgique.
CZECH REPUBLIC
08.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Duchcov.
Official opening of a monument to the local victims of the Holocaust.
Organised by city council Duchcov and Friends of Duchcov.
CROATIA
03.11.98
"Radio Talk Show" and 08.11.98 "Commemoration
Press Conference" - in Zagreb. Press Conference in building
of prison from where anti-fascists were taken to be shot in World
War II . Organised by Center for Direct Protection of Human Rights
and many others
09.11.98
"International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism"
- Commemoration in Zagreb at the Dotrscina Monument. Organised
by Center for Direct Protection of Human Rights.
09.11.98
"Commemoration and Press-Conference" - in Karlovac
and Veljun. Organised by Committee for Human Rights.
09.11.98
"Commemoration and Public Statement at Local Radio"
- in Pula. Organised by Ass. for HR Protection and Civic
Freedom "Homo".
09.11.98
"Commemoration and Public Statement" - in Rijeka.
Organised by Peace Movement "Suncokret".
09.11.98
"Commemoration and Press-Conference" - in Osijek.
Organised by Center for Peace, Non-Violence and Human Rights.
09.11.98
"Commemoration and Public Statement" - in Vukovar.
Organised by Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial
Support.
DENMARK
09.11.98
"Against Nazism, Also Today" - demo in commemoration
of 'Kristallnacht' in Copenhagen. Organised by Mellemfolkeligt
Samvirke and others.
09.11.98
"Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - Activities
in most of the larger towns: Esbjerg, Randers, Aalborg, Odense,
Horsens, Kolding... Contact: Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke.
09.11.98
"Performance-Event" - in Copenhagen at the Kulturvet
in the centre. Organised by Youth of Socialist Peoples Party
in Copenhagen.
FINLAND
09.11.98
"Anti-Racist Demonstration" - Demonstration in
Helsinki against racism and fascism and for tolerance in front
of the Finnish parliament (100 participants). Organised by Finnish
Antifa Coalition, Left Youth and the Finnish Peace Committee.
09.11.98
"Open Doors at the Antifa-Office" - arts exhibition
'tolerance' and accoustic music in Vaasa. Organised by Antifa-Pohjanmaa.
around 09.11.98
"Exhibition at the Library" - in Åland.
Organised by the Ålands Fredsinstitut.
FRANCE
07.11.98
"Commemoration: 60 Years after 'Kristallnacht" -
special broadcast on the Internet. Organised by Human Rights
Multimedia.
GERMANY
26.10.98-20.11.98
"To Commemorate the Victims, We Must not Forget the Perpetrators"
- Series of activities around the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht"
pogrom in Berlin. Including: restoration of Jewish cemetary,
thematical meetings around the roots of anti-Semitism, the motives
of the perpetrators, city tours showing the different places
connected to the history of Jews and anti-Semitism in Berlin,
exhibitions, concerts... 09.11.98 "Silent March"
- in Berlin with several thousands of participants. 09.11.98
"Official 'Kristallnacht'" Commemoration" -
in the Berlin Synagogue with speeches of the German president
Roman Herzog and Ignatz Bubis Chairman of the German Jewish Central
Council. Organised by ASTA TU Berlin, Bund der Antifaschisten,
IG Medien, Europäische Friedensaktion and 40 others.
07.11.98
"8th Anti-Fascist - Anti-Racist Counsel" - Seminar
in Erfurt. Themes: extreme -right in german federal parliaments,
schools and on internet, Kein Mensch ist Illegal... and "Against
Denial and Looking Away - 60 Years After 'Kristallnacht'"
- Commemoration Walk/Demonstration. Organised by LAG Antirassismus/Antifaschismus
Thüringen.
09.11.98
"Commemoration of the 'November-Pogrome'" -
in Erfurt. Organised by Erfurt city council, Cultur Division
and Begegnungszentrum Kleine Synagoge.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Bielefeld
with exhibition "Human Fates - be aware of the past - to
shape present and future responsible ". Organised by Bielefeld
City council, schools and the Jewish Community.
07.11 -13.11.98
"Stolen Childhood" - International Seminar in
Braunschweig. Themes: children- and youth -experiences in ghettos
and concentration camps... Organised by Internationaler Arbeitskreis
Sonnenberg.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Dresden.
Official start of the building of a new synagogue on the place
of the old one, burnt down on 09.11.38. Organised by City Council
and Jewish Community, Gesellschaft für christlich-jüdische
Zusammenarbeit.
08.11-20.11.98
"Exhibition "Crimes of the 'Wehrmacht'" -
with large acompanying program in Hannover. 08.11.98 "The
Pogrom Night in Neustadt" Organised by Geschichtswerkstadt
Hannover and others.
09.11.98
"Commemoration Ceremony" - Commemoration at
the site of the former synagogue, burnt in '38, in Bremerhaven.
Organised by Anti Rassismus Werkstatt Bremerhaven and Bremerhaven
Jewish Community.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Marburg
with several cultural events. Organised by christian and jewish
groups also "Commemoration-Demonstration" with
ca. 100 participants. Organised by the University of Marburg
and others.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht'-Demonstration" - in Aachen
with speeches from Holocaust-survivors and others. Organised
by VVN-Bund der Antifaschisten, DGB, PDS, Antidiskriminierungsbüro,
Bündnis "Eruuskomme" gegen Arbeitslosigkeit, Armut
und Ausgrenzung, Kirchenasyl a.o.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - ecumenical
worship and candle light march in Düsseldorf . Organised
by Protestant and Catholic Churches and Gesellschaft für
christlich-jüdische Zusammenarbeit.
GREAT-BRITAIN
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Newcastle;
candle lit vigil, memorial service, theatre play (Broken Glass
by Arthur Miller). Organised by: Tyne & Wear Anti-Fascist
Association.
08.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration Service" - in
the Liberal Jewish Synagogue London (GB) part of: 09.11-15.11.98
"Refugee Week" - all through Great-Britain.
Coordinated by Refugee Week and RefAid.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Picket" - at Yugoslavian /
Croatian Embassy. Themes: protest against states leaning towards
fascist methods... Organised by Jewish Socialist Group.
around 09.11.98
"Kristallnacht and Anti-Semitism" - Special
issue of Searchlight Magazine published by Searchlight - Publishing/Information
Services.
GREECE
09.11.98
"Special Movie Show: The Great Dictator" - in
Thessaloniki. Organised by Local Committee of Thessaloniki Against
Racism.
09.11.98
"Legalisation Procedure: Problems and Solutions"
- Debate in Athens
Organised by AEGEE - Working Group Against Racism and Xenophobia.
HUNGARY
10.11.98
"Children's Rights: Children in War" - in Budapest.
Themes: children as victims of war, commemoration of the 1,5
million children that died in the Holocaust... Organised by Amnesty
International Hungary and others.
ITALY
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - Special made
campaign postpaper, envelopes and stickers in Rieti. Organised
by Associazione Rieti Immigrant-Provincia.
MOLDOVA
08.11.98
"Round Table on 'Kristallnacht' Commemoration"
and "Prize Award: Inter-Ethnic Tolerance Essay Competition"
and "Street Action" - in Chisinau. Organised
by Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Moldova Youth Organisation.
NETHERLANDS
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Amsterdam.
Organised by Nederland Bekent Kleur, Amsterdams 4 + 5 Mei Comité
and Meldpunt Discriminatie Amsterdam. Nederland Bekent Kleur
also coordinates the many activities around 'Kristallnacht' in
different cities in the Netherlands.
08.11.98
"Commemoration Meeting" - in Tilburg with poets
from Chili, Somalia, Turkey, Iran, former Yugoslavia and the
Netherlands. Organised by Anti-Racisme Groep, Sardunya, Stichting
Nieuwkomers and Vluchtelingenwerk.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - meeting in
the synagogue with speakers from Jewish and ethnic minority communities
in Delft. Organised by Delfts Bureau Respect.
08.11.98
"'Kristallnacht'-Festival" - in Eindhoven. Manifestation
(500 participants) with speakers, Turkish pop music and theater
by Amnesty International. Organised by Eindhoven Samen Tegen
Racisme.
09.11.98
"Nationalism + Refugees: 'Kristallnacht'" - Commemoration
meeting with movie and discussion in Hoorn. Themes: Nationalism,
refugees, former Yugoslavia... Organised by AFA-Hoorn
09.11.98
"Vigil Commemoration of 'Kristallnacht'" - in
Leiden. Themes: Asylum policies then and now, police violence
against migrants... Organised by Rebel Leiden.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - discussion
and music in Vlissingen. Organised by Bravo - Anti-Racisme Stichting.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Memorial Walk" - in Dordrecht.
Organised by DID.
09.11.98
"Commemoration in Resistance Museum" - in Gouda.
Organised by Verzetsmuseum Gouda.
09.11.98
"Is There a Future for Anti-Fascism in Friesland"
- Meeting in Leeuwarden. Organised by Frysk Anty Fassisme
Komitee.
NORWAY
09.11.98
"Torchlight Commemoration" - in ±19 cities.
Organised by Norwegian People's Aid and Norwegian Confederation
of Trade Unions (part of joint campaign against racism).
POLAND
07.11.98 -11.11.98
"Press Conference" - in Warszawa. 09.11.98 "'Kristallnacht'
Commemoration" - in Warszawa at the monument to the
victims of the Holocaust. Around 09.11.98 "Special Issue
of the "Never Again"- Magazine" 08.11.98-09.11.98
"Neo-Fascism in Europe" - Conference in Warszawa
also with street commemoration / performance, rock - concert
and educational activities in schools. 08.11-09.11.98 "One
Race Human Race" - compilation record with Polish and
foreign artists. Organised by 'Never Again' and Anti-Nazi Group.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Szczecin
with poetry-reading and historical lecture. Organised by Jewish
Social-Cultural Association and Anti-Nazi-Group - Szczecin-branch.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht'-Action" - in Koszalin with
historical lecture and a film on today's fascists. Organised
by 'Never Again' Association and Youth Federation of the Labour
Union.
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Street-Action" - in Limanowa
with collecting signatures calling for a ban on nazi parties.
Organised by Anti-Nazi-Group and 'Never Again' Association.
PORTUGAL
09.11.98
"Dicussion about Racism and Xenophobia" - in
Porto. and 10.11.98 "Lecture about Racism" -
in Maia. Organised by Olho Vivo
ROMANIA
30.10.98-16.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - in Cluj-Napoca
with presswork, distribution of questionnaires in schools and
faculties, visit to the synagogue, final evaluation of questionnaires.
And 09.11.98 "The Destiny of the Jewish Community"
- Round Table. Theme: Jewish Community in Romania Between
1940-1945. Organised by Youth Action for Peace Romania with a.o.
Amare Phrala.
07.11 - 09.11.98
"Commemoration - Weekend" - in Oradea. 07.11.98
"Radio Talk Show" - on the meaning of antifascism
and the local Jewish community. 08.11.98 "Open Gate Day"
- at one of the old synagogues in Oradea. 09.11.98 "Photo
Exhibition and Concert" - with old photos from 1939,
collected from Jewish families that survived the Holocaust, concert
by the Jewish Community Choir. Organised by Youth Action for
Peace RO-Oradea branch.
around 09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht'-Action" -in Galati and Bukarest
100 000 stamped envelopes were issued by the Romanian Post, exhibition
"Ways for Educating Youth against Discrimination" and
discussions in schools and highschools of Galati, free movie-ditribution
in the "Republica" cinema of Galati. Organised by Organizatia
Studentilor "Dunarea de Jos" and Youth Action for Peace
Galati-branch.
RUSSIA
07.11-09.11.98
"Commemorational Anti-Totalitarian Federal Campaign"
09.11.98 "Candlelight March" - in Moscow.
Organised by Antifascist Youth Action.
09.11.98
"Never Again" - Seminar in Voronezh and Anti-Fascist
Meeting in Lipetsk. Organised by the Antifascist Congress of
South Russia.
SLOVENIA
26.10-12.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration"- in Ljubljana;
photo exhibition, bulletins on tolerance and understanding, postcard
action around shops and pubs, media campaign... Organised by
All Different All Equal Campaign Slovenia.
SWEDEN
09.11.98
"'Kristallnacht' Commemoration" - Torch Light
Demonstration and Concert (700-800 participants) in Stockholm.
Organised by Nätverket mot Rasism, Ung Vänster and
AFA-Stockholm.
There also have been demonstrations in cities all over Sweden:
Lund (600), Gothenburg (900), Linköping (1000), Uppsala
(400), Umeå, Luleå (100), Falun (150), Malmö
(400) and Jonköping. Themes: '"illegal" refugees,
violence against minorities, extreme-right...
09.11 -10.11.98
"Train of Candlelights" - in Lund. Anti-fascist
manifestation, seminars and speeches. 09.11-14.11.98 "Anti-Fascist
Moviedays" - in Lund. Anti-fascist movies followed by
debates. Organised by Save the Children Sweden.
09.11.98
"For Diversity and Tolerance" - Manifestation
in Helsingborg. Themes: Overcoming prejudice and everyday racism,
conveying knowledge around the Holocaust, positive manifestation...
Organised by 9 November Group and Alla Olika, Alla Lika.
SWITZERLAND
08.11.98
"Resisting Fascism: Bavaud" - Conference in
Neuchâtel. Organised by the socialist movement, churches
and Jewish community.
09.11.98
"When Will We Apologise for Today's Refugee Politics?"
- Display of banners in important places in different cities.
Organised by Asylkoordination Schweiz.
09.11.98
"Commemorate 'Kristallnacht'" - Press Action.
Organised by Association Romande Contre le Racisme.
YUGOSLAVIA
09.11.98
"International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism"
- in Belgrade with multimedia-event and techno/house-party
in the cinema "Rex" and 'Kristallnacht' Commemoration"
in the B92-Radio. Organised by Radio B92.
09.11.98
"Commemoration of 'Kristallnacht'" - Cultural
Manifestation in Kovacica. Organised by Liga Vojvodankse Omladine
- Kovacica.
Contact addresses can be requested at the UNITED office
and are available from the new version of the European Address
Book Against Racism
Up
UNITED
for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
Postbus
413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org,
www.unitedagainstracism.org
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