LIST OF ACTIVITIES

   
   

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


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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