Sunday, October 14, 2018

Solidarity - Make Fortress Europe Fall

Nearly a quarter of a million people took to the streets of Berlin to protest against the rise of the far-right nationalism and racism. The march stretched 5 kilometres (3 miles.)

All kinds of organizations joined in, including trade unions, NGOs, political parties (both mainstream and fringe), gay rights groups, schools and theaters, all carrying a variety of banners, each with their own cause to promote (Ryanair workers were a conspicuous presence), but all united behind the slogan: "Solidarity not marginalization."

In a declaration, they explained that "A dramatic political shift is taking place: Racism and discrimination are becoming socially acceptable," it read. "What yesterday was considered unthinkable and unutterable has today become a reality. Humanity and human rights, religious freedom and the rule of law are being openly attacked. This is an attack on all of us."

The declaration went on to attack the effects of global capitalism: "Millions suffer the impact of an underinvestment in basic care, healthcare, childcare and education."

"There are people here who want to show that they don't support what is going on in Germany, including from established politicians, all this hate, this whole debate about immigration," said Rola Saleh, a social worker who helps young refugees in the eastern city of Chemnitz, where far-right violence made international headlines in late August. Saleh, who was in Berlin to give a speech for her group Jugendliche ohne Grenzen ("Youth without Borders"), told DW that refugees and people helping them were being "criminalized" in Germany. "At the moment, a new police law is being planned in Saxony that would allow our advice center, where we give refugees legal advice, to be spied on," she said. "These are things that are happening now: deportation custody, 'anchor centers', the marginalization of refugees." She said. "After the conflicts in Chemnitz, a lot of the refugees are afraid and uncertain about the situation. They feel like they've been abandoned; a lot of them are trying to leave Saxony, or they're afraid they'll be provoked into criminal acts by a situation. If you feel like you live in a state where the police are not ready or able to help you, you start thinking about finding ways to protect yourself."
https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-protests-against-far-right-politics-draw-thousands/a-45873439

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