MEDIA RELEASE

Silence Kills - Resist Against Intolerance!
Not since the "Kristallnacht" pogrom of 1938 were so many synagogues attacked in Europe as in the last month. According to a list published by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre more than 90 attacks against synagogues took place in October all over Europe. But Jews are not the only group that has fallen victim to intolerance. The situation for minorities 62 years after the "Kristallnacht" pogrom is still problematic.
The 9 November campaign, co-ordinated by UNITED, asks the people of Europe not to be bystanders, but to resist against intolerance.

Commemorations of "Kristallnacht" pogrom in 34 European countries
On 9 November protesters will assemble in many of the bigger towns in Europe (e.g. Vienna, Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm, Moscow, Prague, Belgrade). School children in Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Greece, Slovenia, Ukraine and many other countries are involved in special discussion meetings and anti-racist education-programmes. Exhibitions and concerts on anti-fascist issues are organised in Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Russia and many other countries in Europe. In Germany more than 30 different commemorations will take place, in the Netherlands vigils will be held and debates will be started in more than 10 different cities.

The campaign
For many in Europe the commemoration of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom of 9 November has a deeper meaning than just looking back. Although participants clearly see 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.
UNITED for Intercultural Action coordinates each year a European-wide campaign to commemorate the past, protest against the present and build the future. It is the variety and creativity of many different simultaneous activities all over Europe that make the UNITED campaigns unique.

Information
A full list of activities (activity descriptions and contact data) is available on
www.unitedagainstracism.org (click under 'campaigns' on '9 November')
and can be faxed or e-mailed on request.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre's report can be found on www.wiesenthal.com
For more information, contact Saskia Daru at the UNITED secretariat.


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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