2010 Dresden anti-fascist blockade
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Dresden anti-fascist blockade, organized by the umbrella group Dresden Without Nazis (German: "Dresden nazifrei"), an anti-fascist alliance of several German organizations, was a counter-demonstration against a planned march of neo-nazis in Dresden
on February 13, 2010. The Dresden Without Nazis alliance is supported by anti-fascist organizations as well as politicians from the Left Party
, the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party
and leading members of trade unions. The alliance coordinated large, peaceful blockades consisting of large crowds of people to stop the Nazi demonstration, a strategy that was successful in preventing the Nazis from marching through Dresden.
and Die Toten Hosen
, politicians from the Left Party
, the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party
and leading members of trade unions.
on February 13, 2010, the biggest Nazi activity in Europe. The coalition advocated large, peaceful blockades consisting of large crowds of people as a means to stop Nazi demonstrations. Its consensus on the form of action to be taken against the neo-nazis reads: "We engage in civil disobedience
against the Nazi demonstration. We will not escalate conflicts. Our mass blockades consist of people. We are in solidarity with all those who share with us the goal of preventing the Nazi demonstration."
On January 19, 2010, police units searched premises used by the alliance in Dresden and Berlin, and confiscated computers, as well as posters. Politicians of the Left Party and the Green Party criticized the seizure. According to the Prosecutors Office, the slogan "Gemeinsam blockieren" ("Blocking together"), used on the poster, constituted a call to violate the law.
On February 13, 2010, neo-nazi groups gathered in Dresden to stage a "mourning march" on the 65th anniversary of the bombing of the city
in World War II, which they describe as a "bombing holocaust
". Until 2010, the march, organized by the National Democratic Party
and the Junge Landsmannschaft Ostdeutschland
, was the largest yearly demonstration organized by neo-Nazis in Europe. On February 13, 1945, the city was bombed by Allied planes, resulting in the death of approximately 25,000 inhabitants, and official ceremonies to commemorate the dead take place in Dresden every year.
Coordinated by the alliance Dresden Without Nazis, which organized several rallies that took place in the area, between 10,000 and 15,000 demonstrators surrounded the train station of the Neustadt district of Dresden, where the Nazi demonstration was supposed to begin. In the city center, an additional 10,000 people took part in a human chain that symbolically protected the city against the Nazis. While about 6,000 Nazis held a rally in a confined space adjacent to the Neustadt train station, more than 5,000 police separated the opposing groups. Police then declared the blockades to be intractable, did not allow the neo-Nazis to march, and ordered them to leave the area by train.
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on February 13, 2010. The Dresden Without Nazis alliance is supported by anti-fascist organizations as well as politicians from the Left Party
Left Party (Germany)
The Party of Democratic Socialism was a democratic socialist political party active in Germany from 1989 to 2007. It was the legal successor to the Socialist Unity Party , which ruled the German Democratic Republic until 1990. From 1990 through to 2005, the PDS had been seen as the left-wing...
, the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and leading members of trade unions. The alliance coordinated large, peaceful blockades consisting of large crowds of people to stop the Nazi demonstration, a strategy that was successful in preventing the Nazis from marching through Dresden.
Supporters
Supporters of Dresden Without Nazis include local and regional anti-fascist groups, the nationwide anti-fascist associations "No pasarán!" and "VVN-BdA", artists such as Konstantin WeckerKonstantin Wecker
Konstantin Alexander Wecker is one of the best-known German singer-songwriters ; he also works as a composer, author, and actor.- Life and work :...
and Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
, politicians from the Left Party
Left Party (Germany)
The Party of Democratic Socialism was a democratic socialist political party active in Germany from 1989 to 2007. It was the legal successor to the Socialist Unity Party , which ruled the German Democratic Republic until 1990. From 1990 through to 2005, the PDS had been seen as the left-wing...
, the Green Party and the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and leading members of trade unions.
Activities
Dresden Without Nazis was set up to mobilize against a planned march of neo-nazis in DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on February 13, 2010, the biggest Nazi activity in Europe. The coalition advocated large, peaceful blockades consisting of large crowds of people as a means to stop Nazi demonstrations. Its consensus on the form of action to be taken against the neo-nazis reads: "We engage in civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
against the Nazi demonstration. We will not escalate conflicts. Our mass blockades consist of people. We are in solidarity with all those who share with us the goal of preventing the Nazi demonstration."
On January 19, 2010, police units searched premises used by the alliance in Dresden and Berlin, and confiscated computers, as well as posters. Politicians of the Left Party and the Green Party criticized the seizure. According to the Prosecutors Office, the slogan "Gemeinsam blockieren" ("Blocking together"), used on the poster, constituted a call to violate the law.
On February 13, 2010, neo-nazi groups gathered in Dresden to stage a "mourning march" on the 65th anniversary of the bombing of the city
Bombing of Dresden in World War II
The Bombing of Dresden was a military bombing by the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force and as part of the Allied forces between 13 February and 15 February 1945 in the Second World War...
in World War II, which they describe as a "bombing holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
". Until 2010, the march, organized by the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
and the Junge Landsmannschaft Ostdeutschland
Junge Landsmannschaft Ostdeutschland
Junge Landsmannschaft Ostdeutschland is a nationalist and revanchist, German youth organization, that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has described as “partially far-right”. Most of its activities take place in the eastern parts of Germany...
, was the largest yearly demonstration organized by neo-Nazis in Europe. On February 13, 1945, the city was bombed by Allied planes, resulting in the death of approximately 25,000 inhabitants, and official ceremonies to commemorate the dead take place in Dresden every year.
Coordinated by the alliance Dresden Without Nazis, which organized several rallies that took place in the area, between 10,000 and 15,000 demonstrators surrounded the train station of the Neustadt district of Dresden, where the Nazi demonstration was supposed to begin. In the city center, an additional 10,000 people took part in a human chain that symbolically protected the city against the Nazis. While about 6,000 Nazis held a rally in a confined space adjacent to the Neustadt train station, more than 5,000 police separated the opposing groups. Police then declared the blockades to be intractable, did not allow the neo-Nazis to march, and ordered them to leave the area by train.