Know
The Past - Make Your Future
9 November 2002
International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism |
Commemoration
in 33 countries
Torchlight processions all over Sweden and Norway
'FASCISM? NO THANKS!' big demonstration in Zagreb (HR)
Counter picket against extreme-right in Paris (F)
This year again the European anti-racist movement organised unique
actions in the framework of the UNITED campaign. Activists raised
historical awareness and drew attention to current racism issues.
In 33 countries traditional commemorations as well as actions
against today's racism took place.
In Wien (Austria) young people discussed in an interactive e-mail
project how to commemorate the Holocaust. The debate was made
public through screens at public places. "Fascism? No, Thanks!"
- a coalition of Croatian NGOs collaborated to organise a big
demonstration in Zagreb on 9 November. French organisations such
as Scalp, Fasti and MRAP campaigned against a fascist meeting
in Paris on the anniversary of the "Kristallnacht"
pogrom. The most important French newspapers, as for example
Le Monde, covered the protest. On 9 November children from rural
areas in Kyrgyzstan initiated campaigns in their school. Hundreds
of pupils involved in the campaign received a button "I
am against fascism". All over Germany and Netherlands commemoration
acts were held. In Russia organisations took up the occasion
of the UNITED campaign to discuss a new Aliens Law implemented
on 1 November. In Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and
Ukraine cultural activities contributed to the fight against
racism and fascism through minority theatre plays and creative
workshops for children.
UNITED co-ordinated the decentralized
campaign by motivating organisations to participate, providing
information through Internet and other media and publishing a
press release. UNITED has produced the poster "Know the
Past - Make your Future" that was distributed all over Europe
and which is used by hundreds of non-governmental organisations
as a tool for campaigning and awareness raising.
 Know the past - make
your future!
Why commemorating a pogrom that took place 64 years ago? Why
reminding that racism, antisemitism and fascism have a long history
and caused millions of deaths?
The "Kristallnacht" pogrom, often seen as the symbolical
beginning of the Holocaust, reminds millions of people of injustice,
inhumanity, intolerance, fascism and antisemitism. Organisations
all over Europe campaign on the anniversary of the "Kristallnacht"
pogrom to open people's eyes for intolerance and discrimination
in our present society. It is a struggle for more justice and
human rights. We campaign towards a future in which all inhabitants
of Europe feel accepted and appreciated.
The "Kristallnacht" pogrom: a short history
In Germany on November
9th 1938, the Nazis started a pogrom against the Jews. After
the Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews were subjected to harsh
laws against them - being forced to hand over their businesses
to 'Aryans', only being allowed to shop in Jewish-owned shops,
children only allowed to go to Jewish schools etc.
On November 6th, a young Jew living in Paris, Herschel Grynszpan,
received a postcard from his father Zindel who had been deported,
along with 18.000 other German Jews, on October 27th to the Polish
frontier. The postcard described the terrible conditions that
the deportees were living under. Herschel Grynszpan was so angered
by what he read that he went to the German Embassy in Paris and
shot the first German official that he saw, Ernst vom Rath, a
diplomatic assistant. Vom Rath died of his injuries on November
8th and the news of his death reached Germany the next day. The
Nazis and Hitler denounced the killing as part of a Jewish world-wide
conspiracy against Germany.
The pogrom started in Berlin on November 9th 1938, organised
unofficially by Hitler's SA storm troops. Synagogues were set
on fire. Jewish shops had their windows smashed across the country,
which gave rise to the name "Kristallnacht", which
freely translated means the Night of Broken Glass. Many Jews
were physically attacked too. More than 7000 Jewish businesses
across the country were attacked. Around 200 synagogues were
destroyed and 91 Jews were killed. More than 30.000 were arrested
and sent to concentration camps. Many of these were killed in
the following two months.
The "Kristallnacht" pogrom is usually seen as the symbolic
beginning of the Holocaust, the systematic murder of over 6 million
Jews, over a million Roma and Sinti, gay people as well as communists,
trade unionists and many others.
The word "Kristallnacht" was given by the Nazis themselves
to the pogrom, because it mocked what had happened. German anti-fascists
today prefer to describe the events of this night as Reichspogromnacht,
although in most other countries, the term is still used as it
is more well-known.
Although there is only one Holocaust, genocide has taken place
in several places on several occasions after World War II. When
we say "Never Again", it does not mean that it has
never happened again. It means that we commit ourselves to do
everything in our power to make sure that it does not happen
again.
Country
Reports
AUSTRIA
In Wien, in the night of 9 November
1938, 42 synagogues burned and uncountable windows of shops and
other Jewish houses were smashed. 3700 Jews were deported to
the concentration camp in Dachau and another hundred Jews committed
suicide. During this time Austria was already part of Hitler's
"Third Reich". Nazi organisations such as the SS, SA
and Gestapo initiated the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom. In media releases
on occasion of the 64th anniversary of the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom
anti-fascists and anti-racists stressed that the pogrom was not
a riot resulting from the anger of the population, but, in fact,
in this night the Nazis started the Holocaust. Nevertheless,
"too many opportunists just followed the Nazis, Jews faced
the pogrom without help or protection. Only a few people had
the courage to resist (...) What we can learn from the past is
that we will not allow something similar to take place again"
(appeal to join a commemoration activity organised by Revolutionsbräuhof
and others on 9 November).
Antifaschistische Linke, Revolutionsbräuhof and many other
initiatives held a manifestation at the Aspangbahnhof in Wien,
the station from which Jews were deported to concentration camps.
Under the motto "Never Again" hundreds of anti-fascists
and anti-racists demonstrated in Wien. The organisers (among
others Rosa Antifa Wien and Aktionsbündnis gegen Antisemitismus)
stated: "The commemoration of the "Reichpogromnacht",
which took place 64 years ago, should remind us of the German-Austrian
responsibility for the Shoa".
One of the darkest parts of the Austrian involvement in the Holocaust
is the concentration camp for women in Ravensbrück, where
approximately 140.000 people were imprisoned. Women had to work
about 11 hours a day, were forced to prostitute and the majority
did not survive. B-project initiated lectures of survivors of
Ravensbrück in Wien on 9 November.
Verein für Dienste im Ausland hung up about 1500 UNITED
posters all over Austria to promote the International Day Against
Fascism and Antisemitism. During an Internet Art project young
people discussed how to commemorate the Holocaust nowadays.
BELGIUM
Asking why in Belgium only few organisations become active on
9 November a reprentative of a Jewish organisation stated: "They
fear attacks".
Nevertheless some activities were organised on 9 November. The
Jewish Museum of Belgium informed their visitors about the UNITED
campaign against fascism and antisemitism. Every year Foundation
Kris Van Gysel awards anti-fascist and anti-racist youth initiatives.
The prize giving is entitled "Kristall-Award" meaning
that the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom shows the importance of anti-fascist,
anti-racist resistance and civil commitment.
Belgium faces serious problems concerning racial violence. In
Antwerpen, a 27-year old Moroccan teacher of Islam, known for
preaching tolerance and peaceful co-existence, was gunned down
on 26 November by a 66-year old Belgian neighbour, an act "described
almost unanimously by the North African community as a racist
murder" (Migration News Sheet December 2002).
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
About 10 years after the war in
Bosnia-Herzegovina ended, an estimated number of 20,000 persons
are still missing. Many are believed to be victims of enforced
"disappearances" during the war.
Amnesty International considers the genocide in Srebrenica one
of the largest continuing human rights violations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"Continuing" because even today people can not get
information about the fate of their relatives.
The human rights organisation speaks about the necessity to "achieve
justice for the surviving victims as an integral aspect of the
fragile process of ethnic and political reconciliation throughout
the country" (Media Briefing, 11.07.2002).
Ethnic conflicts and their connection with country's history
are key issues for Bosnia-Herzegovina. NATO-led Stabilization
Forces (SFOR) still need to keep peace. The 5 October general
elections showed that Bosnians, Serbs and Croats are still practically
divided and all have their own "nationalist" parties.
On 9 November anti-fascists expressed their anger about the political
situation: "That we did not vote does not mean that we do
not have a voice". They held a demonstration in Sarajevo
as a reaction to the elections.
Nansen Dialogue Center Mostar is convinced in the importance
of peaceful education and dialogue. On 8 November, on the occasion
of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, the
Center organised a creative workshop against racism for children.
Nansen Dialogue Centers in Sarajevo and Banjaluka contributed
to the campaign by distributing UNITED campaign material and
through lectures.
CROATIA
"Fascism? No, Thanks!"
The Committee for Defascisation consisting of the Association
for Research on Transition to Democracy, the Human Rights Committee
Karlovac and others worked together to organise a huge demonstration
in Zagreb on the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism.
Strong media campaigning resulted a great coverage of the demonstration
in newspapers and television. "Everyday we witness the falling
level of tolerance in our society and the conspicuous growth
of violence. Hate speech and intolerance, the seeds of fascism,
are still going strong, and there is no readiness for Croatia
to face its traumatic past (...) The human right to a dignified
life in peace is not granted by one's mercy, but is given to
us by birth. To respect it, we must want to, and know how to,
fight for it, not wait to be given it by those in power. This
protest is a contribution to these efforts" (The Committee
for Defascization appealing to join the demonstration on 9 November).
DENMARK
"Against Nazism, Racism and
Xenophobia. For a Social Immigration Policy!" With this
clear message organisations such as Fyns Anti-Fascists, Global
Roots, International Forum and many more organised a torchlight
processions to mark the International Day Against Fascism and
Antisemitism. During speeches and a debate at the town hall the
"Kristallnacht" Initiative took up the occasion to
criticize Denmark's restrictive asylum and immigration policy.
Because of tougher laws more and more refugees avoid to ask for
asylum in Denmark. As statistics show Sweden has become the main
destination for refugees in Northern Europe. According to the
Guardian, Denmark is "one of the most hostile places for
asylum seekers". The Danish Peoples Party (12.0% of the
2001 general election votes), led by Pia Kjaersgaard, has responsibility
for the raising hostility. It focuses on the threat Muslims pose
to a Christian country and campaigns for the repatriation of
immigrants and non-white refugees.
Also in København, a broad coalition of NGOs, united under
the name Krystalnatsinitiativet (www.krystalnat.dk), organised
a torchlight procession and speeches at the town hall square.
The Antifascistisk Aktion organised a concert Beats Against Fascism
in the framework of the UNITED campaign opposing the racist policies
in Denmark.
FINLAND
Antifa 65 in Pohjanmaa organised
various activities on 9 November: People could visit the Antifa-office
where a discussion and a concert were organised. Antifa 65 held
a candlelight commemoration for the victims of the 'Kristallnacht'
Pogrom and hung antifascist banners in public places reminding
people of "9 November 'Kristallnacht' - Never Again!".
Schools in Vaasa received information and campaign flyers about
the "Kristallnacht" pogrom and the European-wide UNITED
campaign.
FRANCE
Many French anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations and groups
took up the occasion of 9 November commemoration to protest against
the French extreme-right who celebrated a "Festival of Identity
and Freedom" on 9 November 2002. Extreme-right activists
of the Mouvement National Républicain (MNR) and famous
racists and fascists such as Gilles Soulas (editor of an extreme-right
magazine), Guillaume Faye (who developed the theory "Superiority
of the White Race") and Eric Delcroix (who denies that gas
chambers existed in German concentration camps) met in Paris
to discuss about "The Survival of the Physical and Cultural
Integration of Europeans".
Fédération des Associations de Solidarité
avec les Travailleurs Immigrés (FASTI), MRAP, Scalp Reflex
and other organisations involved in the struggle against racism
opposed the meeting and campared the new tendencies of the extreme-right
with the fascist policy of Hitler Germany. A coalition of organisations
set up a campaign to inform the media, politicians and the public
about the meaning of 9 November as the International Day Against
Fascism and Antisemitism. They called upon everybody to join
the protest against the extreme-right in France. A special issue
of L'Antifasciste on 9 November was entitled "64 after the
'Kristallnacht' Pogrom... the Noise of the 'Bottes' is still
not Gone By". All over Paris UNITED posters were hung up.
On 9 November many of Paris anti-fascists and anti-racists jointed
a counter picket in front of the centre where the extreme-right
held its festival. UNITED campaign material was distributed among
the demonstrators. Le Monde (12.11.02) named the extreme-right
festival held on the anniversary of the 'Kristallnacht' pogrom
a "provocation".
GEORGIA
On 9 November 2002 the Human Rights
Information and Documentation Center held a demonstration in
Tbilisi dedicated to the International Day Against Fascism and
Antisemitism. According to the organisers the demonstration attracted
public and media interest. Newspaper articles covered the demonstration
in which the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center
explained the meaning of 9 November. Posters, booklets and other
information material produced by UNITED and the Human Rights
Information and Documentation Center were distributed.
GERMANY
"Dealing with the awful German
past and present incidents of racism means to commemorate, inform
and confront oneself with problems in our society" (Wolfgang
Benz in an interview with Neues Deutschland on 9 November 2002).
Anti-fascists and anti-racists agree that a symbolical commemoration
of the pogrom from 1938 is not sufficient but that commemorations
should raise historical awareness and make people sensitive for
any kind of discrimination. Present antisemitism and increasing
racial violence make clear that Germany still faces problems
linked to Hitler Germany: devastations of Jewish cemetery, foreigners
attacked by neo-fascists, burned centers for asylum seekers.
On 9 November 2002, during commemorations in Berlin, Stuttgart,
Köln, Aachen and many other cities activists demonstrated
against fascism, showed films about the Holocaust and organised
guided tours to show where the Nazi past is still visible.
On 9 and 10 November LAG Antifaschismus/Antirassismus Thüringen,
Anlaufstelle für Betroffene von rechtsextremen und rassistischen
Angriffen und Diskriminierungen (ABAD) and many others held the
12th Anti-Racist and Anti-Fascist Council in Weimar.
In an appeal to join the Council the organisers stated: "The
German Nationalist Party (NPD) will demonstrate on 9 November
in Weimar - exactly on the 64th anniversary of the 'Reichpogromnacht'(...)
We call upon everybody to take part in the national counter demonstration
in Weimar." During the two days activists had the opportunity
to discuss various issues in workshops. An anti-racist (theatre)
play was performed.
From 4 till 20 November AnStiftung organised seminars, discussions
and readings of artists about violence, xenophobia and intolerance
at schools all over Germany.
GREAT-BRITAIN
On 7 November , during the public
meeting "Refugees Behind the Wire", organised by the
Jewish Socialist Group, a film about the breakout of refugees
in the Australian camp Woomera was shown: "We see the wires
being cut, the police trying to stop the cameras and push the
protesters away and the refugees struggling to escape. Later
two speakers draw the similarities between then (the 'Kristallnacht'
Pogrom) and now. UNITED posters and cards were distributed throughout
London Borough of Camden" (Jewish Socialist Group member
reporting to UNITED about 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom commemoration
activities).
"Virtually Jewish. Reinventing Jewish Culture in Europe"
is the title of a book written by Ruth Ellen Gruber and presented
on 12 November on occasion of the 64 year commemoration of the
'Kristallnacht' Pogrom. It says in the introduction, more then
half a century after the Holocaust, Jews make up a "tiny
fraction" of the population. During the book presentation
in Waltham the role of Jews in Europe was discussed.
In the University of the West of England in Bristol UNITED campaign
material was displayed.
GREECE
The collaborating organisations
Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group-Greece published
a report on "Antisemitism in Greece - a Current Picture:
2001-2002" on 8 November to mark the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom
commemoration"designated as an international day against
racism" (press release on 8 November).
The report draws a concerning picture of antisemitism: "The
outrageous antisemitism of some people, even if few, has been
manifested today under the condemnation of the defensive military
operations of the State of Israel. A fundamental obstacle to
counteracting antisemitism in Greece is that its existence is
systematically ignored. Elaborated conspiracy theories involving
Jewish or 'Zionist Lobbies' with designs on Greece are promulgated
as proof of Jewish omnipotence and an ongoing threat to the territorial,
spiritual and cultural integrity of Greek nation. Even extreme
antisemitic views openly expressed by Orthodox clergy members,
politicians, fractions, cultural icons and journalists pass without
comments. Attacks on Jewish monuments and property receive little
if any attention in the media and faint condemnation by the political
and spiritual leadership. Because antisemitism is a non-issue,
no internal or external pressure is exerted to modify media portrayals
or alter public opinion, as is the case with other forms of racism.
Deeply entrenched, antisemitism continues to be tolerated if
not condoned by all facets of Greek society" (extracts from
the introduction of the mentioned report).
HUNGARY
The Human Rights Students' Initiative
reported to UNITED: "We celebrated the International Day
Against Fascism and Antisemitism on 8 November at the Central
European University in Budapest. We organised an info-desk and
board with UNITED material and additional material about the
Holocaust. We noticed an enormous interest. In the afternoon,
we showed the film 'Life is Beautiful'. More than 60 students
came." Also in Budapest, on 9 November the Mahatma Gandhi
Human Rights Movement promoted tolerance through a demonstration,
a conference and different sport activities.
The issues of racism, fascism and antisemitism were raised during
the UNITED campaign. The Roma minority that was also persecuted
by Nazi Germany still suffers discrimination in Hungary. "Despite
the Government's commitment to improve the situation of the large
Roma minority, Roma were subjected to persistent patterns of
racial discrimination, harassment and violence" (International
Helsinki Federation for Human Rights: "Human Rights in the
OSCE Region", report 2002).
IRELAND
On 9 November the radio station
"NEAR FM" dedicated a whole day to anti-racism and
anti-fascism projects in Ireland. Mags Glennon from the Anti-Fascist
Action was interviewed about how to take direct action against
fascist groups organising public demonstrations. Another project
called 'City Bridges', initiated by trade unionists, was presented
aiming to tackle racism, discrimination in society and looking
at issues around the needs of asylum seekers, refugees and migrant
workers. Later NEAR FM broadcasted a program featuring the contribution
of Jewish musicians such as for example Bob Dylan and the Beastie
Boys to modern music.
KYRGYZSTAN
On 9 November Amnesty International
(AI) conducted a series of activities at the American University
- Central Asia. Members of the group hung up posters "Against
Fascism and Antisemitism" in the university. In the evening
they showed the film "Life is beautiful" in the student
lounge, attended by 20 students.
About 100 children participated in AI's "Youth Empowerment
Project". In the framework of the International Day Against
Fascism and Antisemitism children from rural areas initiated
campaigns in their school. They distributed brochures, wore black
clothes and made presentations about the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom
commemoration day for their schoolmates reaching up to 200 pupils
in each school. Each pupil received a sign -"I am against
Fascism". The film "Life is beautiful" was also
shown in schools in Sokuluk and Kant.
MACEDONIA
From 7-13 November the project
TESPIS was carried out in Skopje.
The organiser, Macedonian Centre for Culture and Development,
describes the project as " Days of Theatre for Minorities
of Republic of Macedonia". It aimed to contribute to the
struggle against racism and nationalism in a creative way. For
the project Macedonian Centre for Culture and Development cooperated
with professional theatre groups. One of the plays was entitled
"My Secret Racist".
MOLDOVA
From 7 to 9 November 'Youth For Change' organized a series of
seminars in Moldovan Universities. The main purpose of these
seminars was attracting the attention of students and universities'
staff to the issue of racism in Europe.
On 9 November, 50 NGO representatives attended a seminar entitled
"November 9, International Day against Fascism and Antisemitism.
Know the past - make your future."
As result of the seminar the main strategies of combating racism
and discrimination in Moldova were elaborated. New common plans
of activities were discussed.
Youth Helsinki Citizens' Assembly of Moldova initiated a media
campaign in November and promoted European cooperation with UNITED.
In a City Council newspaper an article was published dealing
with the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism.
In Chisinau the human rights organisation held a seminar on Holocaust
education.
Youth Helsinki Citizens' Assembly of Moldova also discussed the
issue of Roma and their perception in the media together with
journalism students.
In Moldova, "Roma suffer racial segregation in the fields
of education and housing. They are subjected to violence by both
public officials and non-state actors" according to the
European Roma Rights Center, which submitted written comments
concerning Roma rights issues to UN Committee on the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination.
NETHERLANDS
"On 9 November 1938, 64 years
ago, Nazis set hundreds of synagogues on fire, plundered Jewish
shops and closed Jewish schools, houses and cemeteries. These
terrible incidents, later called "Kristallnacht", are
seen as the beginning of the Holocaust. In Breda a silent tour
will be organised on Sunday, not only to commemorate the past
but to focus on what is happening today" (BODE on 6 November
2002).
In Breda, on 10 November, a monument was unveiled which quotes
Article 1 of the Dutch constitution. This Article says that all
people being in the Netherlands are treated equally. Edwin Mermans,
a representative of Palet, stated: "This Article is a symbol
against discrimination". Palet is member of the Committee
Kristallnachtherdenking which organised the commemoration consisting
of a silent tour, speeches at the new monument and an inter-religious
debate. About 200 people participated in the activities.
The main message of Committee Kristallnachtherdenking is the
necessity for dialogue. "Those who go on communicating do
not start fighting. To initiate dialogues is the best way to
prevent hate" (Rob Cremer, chairman of Committee Kristallnachtherdenking
in DeStem on 10 November 2002).
Fabel van de Illegal stressed that "regardless what many
people think, antsemitism has not disappeared after the Shoa".
Nowadays in Europe, Jews are attacked and synagogues are set
on fire. According to the Anne Frank Foundation, in the Netherlands
many students fail to differentiate between anti-Israel feelings
and hatred of Jews.
On 9 November Fabel van de Illegal showed a film entitled "20
Centuries of Antisemitism". During a demonstration through
Leiden Fabel van de Illegal showed demonstrators items that remind
us of the Holocaust and the resistance in the Netherlands.
Eindoven samen tegen Racisme and others published a reader dealing
with the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom and racism nowadays. It mainly
consists of translations of the UNITED campaign infomation. The
festival and open podium "Fight back Racism" on 10
November was organised by Eindoven samen tegen Racisme, Altstadt
and Jongerenbond.
In many other places similar activities took place. In Vlissingen
Bravo - Anti-Racisme Stichting dedicated their November activities
to education against racism.
NORWAY
All over Norway people went in
the streets to oppose racism and to mark the 64 commemoration
of the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom. During torchlight processions,
demonstrations and manifestations a broad public contributed
to the commemoration activities in Oslo, Hamar, Tonsberg, Bergen,
Askim and many other places. SOS Rasisme Norway did a great job
and published information about numerous activities in the framework
of 9 November commemorations. Many newspapers used this information.
Besides SOS Rasisme many other NGOs such as Amnesty International
and Tonsberg Antirasistisk Ungdom organised actions. There has
been good media coverage of the various activities highlighting
the issues of racist hate, borders of freedom of speech and racism
in Norway. Another serious issue in Norway is the raising of
"a populist anti-immigration party that has more support
than any other Norwegian party according to the latest opinion
polls. Around 32 per cent of the electorate would cast their
votes for Carl I. Hagen's Progress Party (FrP)." According
to International Searchlight (December 2002 issue) the pro-apartheid
party has entered the political mainstream and wishes to repatriate
more asylum seekers. Searchlight is also concerned about FrP's
attitudes towards religious minorities and Hagen's plans to remove
state funding for the press.
POLAND
This year the International Day
Against Fascism and Antisemitism in Poland took place in the
context of an increased level of extreme-right activities around
the local elections in October 2002. On 7 November in Wroclaw,
Anti-Nazi Group (GAN), 'NIGDY WIECEJ' -'Never Again' Association,
and the Polish Union of Jewish Students organised a joint commemoration
on the site of a local synagogue. A symbolic happening was held
with the participants, including the German Consul Peter Ohr,
wearing a yellow star as a sign of solidarity with the victims
of fascism. This year there had been two arson attacks on the
synagogue and several devastations of the local Jewish cemetery
in Wroclaw. The commemoration was widely covered by the local
media. Also in Wroclaw an anti-racist rock concert was organised
on 9 November. In Przasnysz the local Anti-Nazi Group (GAN) distributed
anti-fascist posters and leaflets in the streets. A similar action
was held by the Anti-Nazi Group (GAN) in Ciechanow.
On 9 November 'NIGDY WIECEJ' - 'Never Again' Association launched
its new redesigned website (http://free.ngo.pl/nw)
with a report on racist and fascist violence, currently the biggest
Polish-language anti-racist resource on the Internet. On the
occasion of 9 November 'NIGDY WIECEJ' - 'Never Again' Association
distributed UNITED campaign material and copies of a report on
discrimination of Roma in Poland (by the European Roma Rights
Center) to media contacts all over Poland. On 9 November in Olsztyn
there was an anti-fascist demonstration organised by a local
youth group. The demonstration was attacked by a group of neo-Nazis.
ROMANIA
Commemoration of the 'Kristallnacht'
Pogrom around 9 November brought up Holocaust's strong impact
on Romanian history.
In Oradea, Nazis built up a ghetto for the Jewish population,
which at that time consisted of 30 000 people. From this ghetto
between 2500 and 3000 people were deported to concentration camps
every day under inhuman circumstances. Most of them never came
back. Today, 600 Jews are still living in Oradea.
On the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism Miscarea
Tinerilor Pentru Pace (MTP) organised an excursion for young
people to the Synagogue of Oradea. Jewish traditional music was
performed during the commemoration.
In a speech the president of MTP said: "We want young people
to be informed what happened 64 years ago. We organise this action
to show that racism is not good at all, on the contrary, we should
live in peace, we should communicate with each other."
The 30 students, who participated in the commemoration also learned
that in Oradea a pogrom against the Jews took place in 1927.
Synagogues were destroyed and the Jews were attacked. In Cluj-Napoca,
the Young Socialists Association held a meeting together with
survivors of the Holocaust.
ATTITUTE discussed during the 9 till 10 November about how we
can fight together against fascism, antisemitism and intolerance.
RUSSIA
Together with other NGOs representing
ethnic minorities in Russia Center for Interethnic Cooperation
held a press conference in Moscow on 9 November. They took up
the occasion of the UNITED campaign to express their opinion
regarding a new "Aliens Law installed on 1 November. In
a declaration the organisations made clear that "the Law
on Foreigners is not realizable". It aims to reduce immigration
to Russia by introducing a quota. But the quota of 530.000 is
much too low. According to the Center for Interethnic Cooperation
there are twice more citizens of CIS in Moscow. In its December
issue the Migration News Sheet writes: "The new Aliens Law,
intended to simplify matters concerning the entry and stay of
foreigners in Russia, brings chaos, confusion and uncertainty
for foreign residence."
SWEDEN
At numerous places all over Sweden
people commemorated the 'Kristallnacht' Pogrom. In Stockholm,
Göteborg, Malmö, Linköping and many other places
demonstrations, torchlight processions, manifestations and other
commemoration activities were held on 9 November. Once more it
became evident that history is not past but it lives on as long
as people remember.
Anti-racist organisations demanded "Never Again", "Stop
Racism", "With Will, Commitment and Courage Against
Fascism" and "a more generous refugee policy".
Refugee issues are highlighted in Sweden since the number of
asylum applications increased in the previous year. Local politicians
in Malmö already reacted on the growing number of refugees
and claimed that "Malmö can no longer absorb asylum-seekers.
They wish to amend the current rules which allow asylum-seekers
to choose where to live" (Migration News Sheet, December
2002). Network Against Racism was the coordinator of the various
actions in Sweden.
SWITZERLAND
On 24 November 2002 a national
referendum in Switzerland aiming at a more restrictive asylum
law failed.
A big coalition of anti-racists, anti-fascists and organisations
in support of refugees and migrants campaigned for a month against
the initiative of the anti-immigration Union démocratique
du Centre (UDC).
The International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism was also
dedicated to this campaign which is of very high importance for
nearly all Swiss organisations. Most activities organised in
November took place under the motto: "No to the Proposal
of the UDC". The Swiss Refugee Council together with Vivre
Ensemble and Solidarité Sans Frontières co-ordinated
the successful campaign including discussions all over Switzerland
(a panel discussion in Langenthal on 8 November is mentioned
in UNITED's list of activities). In the unsuccessful referendum
the UDC demanded that any asylum seeker from a safe third country
should be sent back, without taking care of the merits of his/her
application. UDC also claimed "drastic reductions in social
welfare assistance granted to asylum seekers" (Migration
News Sheet November 2002).
UKRAINE
Under initiative of UNITY on 11
November, a lecture was held in connection with the International
Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism: "This memorable day
has become a black page in the history of mankind, and has a
special meaning for millions of Europeans. It is impossible to
forget about fascist concentration camps of death: the Warsaw
ghetto, Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald and many others in which
millions of victims were exterminated in gas chambers. We shall
commemorate the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, Armenians,
Bulgarian, Greeks and Germans from Crimea, Turkey-Meshetians,
Chechens, Cherces and other peoples from the Caucasus. We shall
commemorate the prisoners of camp Ciberia. The youth should promote
humanism and a culture of respect towards other cultures. We
should oppose enmity between religions, racial discrimination
and intolerance between people. The commemoration of 9 November
1938 is an appeal to act united in the struggle against neo-nazism,
racism and discrimination. We should be aware of indifference.
Each of us should do everything to make sure, that the Holocaust
would never again be possible" (extract from the lecture).
UNITY also prepared an article for the youth newspaper Harmony
and a program for radio broadcasters about the commemoration
day.
Chernihiv Public Committee of Human Rights Protection organised
an exhibition ("World Fighting Against Racism") and
a conference for national minorities in Chernihiv on 9 November.
"Culture Against Nationalism" was the motto of African
National Organisation's activities such as theatre, discussions
and concerts for students. The president of African National
Organisation was arrested on 9 November under unclear circumstances.
In a letter to UNITED the African National Organisation asks
for support "because here is real racism."
YUGOSLAVIA
Organisations from Montenegro
and Kosovo joined the campaign on 9 November. In the Kosovo region
the situation is still rather difficult. Many of Kosovo's actual
problems result from the ethnic cleansings ending with the Kosovo
war in 1999. Kosovo still needs to be protected by United Nations
Police (UNMIK).
It means that organisations can hardly organise activities without
facing restrictions. The Yugoslavian infrastructure for civil
society is weak: NGOs have difficulties to get established. There
are almost no funding possibilities for local actions and projects
mainly get funding from abroad. Organisations that contributed
to the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism based
their activities mainly on UNITED material, which they got for
free. In the Kosovan town Mitrovica the Nansen Dialogue Center,
besides distributing of UNITED material, organised a concert
and an art exhibition. Center Against Racism and Racial Discrimination
distributed UNITED posters all over Podgorica (Montenegro) and
contacted MONITOR, the first independent Montenegrin weekly newspaper.
On occasion of the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism
MONITOR published the UNITED anti-fascism logo and translated
UNITED's statements on fascism and antisemitism.
A similar action was organised by Nansen Dialogue Center Montenegro
in cooperation with the Youth Education Centre.
ACTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
In Baku, the Azerbaijan Volunteers
Union organised debates on how to fight united against fascism
and racism. In the International Museum for Peace and Solidarity
(Samarkand, Uzbekistan) and in the house of YMCA Valletta (Malta)
UNITED posters and other campaign material were exhibited.
In both Latvia and Turkey organisations drew attention the International
Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism. PEKA and the Latvian Anti-Fascist
Action promoted the UNITED campaign in Riga (LV) among other
organisations and the public. "Fascism and Young People:
from Past to Modern Life" was the title of a seminar held
by Homel Antifascist Center (BY). Associazione Rieti Immigrant-Provincia
(Italy) set up a local media campaign. On 9 November the European
Social Forum took place in Firenze joined by many international
and Italian anti-racist organisations. Therefore less activities
were organised in the framework of the International Day Against
Fascism and Antisemitism in Italy.
Order
the printed version (with many pictures and press clippings)
of the report at:
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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