MEDIA RELEASE

SWEDEN - Anti-racist groups, anti-fascists and trade unionists have united to commemorate the death of a SAC trade unionist. This murder was the latest in a series of murders committed by extreme-right activists. In 1938 the violence of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom in Nazi-Germany led the way to the Holocaust. 1 minute of silence will commemorate this historical date while showing that there is opposition to extreme-right violence today.

RUSSIA - As Russian troops are closing in on Grozny, Chechens are persecuted in Russia itself. The Moscow police has answered the call to act against terrorism by raiding immigrants in the Russian capital. All people from the Caucasus and in fact all who look different, are seen as potential terrorists. Russian anti-fascists commemorate 9 November, but link it to intolerance and xenophobia in Russia today.

Commemorations of "Kristallnacht" pogrom in 25 European countries
On 9 November protesters will assemble in many of the bigger towns in Europe (e.g. Vienna, Copenhagen, Berlin, Stockholm, Oslo). In more than nine towns in the Netherlands vigils will be held and debates will be started. School children in many countries are involved in special discussion meetings. In Spain over 100 events will take place in different cities. In Great-Britain the commemoration will be part of a national Refugee Week. In many cities and towns around Germany public commemoration meetings will take place. 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.

Linked through UNITED, the European network against racism, more than 500 organisations from all European countries work together. UNITED coordinates the activities on a European level, it initiates and inspires action, provides information and campaign material.

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 November 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.

A full list of activities (activity descriptions and contact data) is available on request.
For more information, contact 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