Photos: neighbor protests against the right-wing extremist demonstration of the “Identitären” movement at Brunnenviertel (Berlin-Wedding) of June 17, 2017

(image source: Presseservice Rathenow)

source: Berlin gegen Nazis

To inform all residents affected by large right-wing extremist demonstrations is a prerequisite for neighbors to have the chance to prepare and take a stand against what is happening. When such counter-protests come into formation, they constitute an excellent tool to disturb the right-wing extremist’s self-presentation, and to foster the solidarity among the residents against right-wing extremism.

The rapidly prepared flyer by Berlin gegen Nazis and the Wedding-based initiative Vor-Ort-Büro „Demokratie in der Mitte“ presented information for all affected neighbors in German, English, Turkish, and Arabic. It can be found here. Several other initiatives followed suit and provided the Kiez with their own multi-language information leaflets.

source: Demokratie in der Mitte

The participants (about 700) of the right-wing extremist demonstration of the “Identitären” movement however, made it only a few hundred meters from their starting point at Gesundbrunnen station before they were stopped in their tracks by blockades and counter-protests announced for the day by Berliner Bündnis gegen Rechts. They remained trapped for several hours in the neighborhood of Brunnenviertel, until the demonstration was officially declared finished and they returned to Gesundbrunnen for departure. During the entire time, Brunnenviertel residents were directly present at the right-wing extremist demonstration to protest as far as barriers allowed, or took part in the numerous other counter-protests.

On June 17, Brunnenviertel made it loud and clear that racists are not welcome there.