poster by SBgR and VVN-BdA
The initiative Spandauer Bündnis gegen Rechts (SBgR) registered a demonstration at the point where the right-wing extremist’s demonstration is likely to arrive, which is Spandauer Wilhelmstadt at Wilhelmstr. 23, to ensure a vocal disruption of the NS-hero-commemoration, starting from 11:00.
At the event at Wilhelmstr. 23, Berlin gegen Nazis will host a campaign which invites all residents of Spandau and Berlin to join in: A workshop to create colorful protest posters under the slogan “Buchstaben & Plakat Choreografie gegen Neonazis“, where you can bring your own ideas and make a mark against right-wing extremism.
Starting from 11:00, as well is the demonstration under the slogan “Keine Heldenverehrung von Nazikriegsverbrechern in Spandau und anderswo“, organized by Spandauer Regionalgruppe des Vereinigung der Verfolgten des Naziregimes / Bund der Antifaschistinnen und Antifaschisten (VVN/BdA ), leading from Spandau train station towards Wilhelmstadt neighborhood.
A broad alliance of civic initiatives supports the call (PDF) to the afore mentioned counter-protests:
Spandauer Regionalgruppe VVN/BdA, Spandauer Bündnis gegen Rechts, Berliner Bündnis gegen Rechts, Berliner VVN-BdA, Stadtteilzentrum Spandau – Sozial-kulturelle Netzwerke Casa e.V., Runder Tisch Spandau für Demokratie und Toleranz, Mahnwache Spandau, Cotyar Hagi (Linksfraktion Spandau), Evangelische Kirche in Spandau, Bündnis – Aufstehen gegen Rassismus, Katholische Pfarrgemeinden in Spandau, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Berlin – Kreisverband Spandau, Bündnis für Demokratie und Toleranz Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Türkischer Bund Berlin-Brandenburg, IG BAU, DGB Kreisverband Spandau, DIE LINKE. Spandau (as of August 10, 2017)
The call entitled “Gemeinsam gegen Nazi-Heldengedenken“ states:
We, the undersigned, refuse any kind of heroic commemoration of any Nazis, new and old. We will no longer put up with the racist propaganda, which was decidedly launched to instill fear of the future, of refugees, and xenophobia. This climate makes supporters of nationalist ideology and historical misrepresentation thrive. The numerous assaults and arson attacks on refugees and their living quarters, more than one thousand at present, as well as the racist killings committed by NSU, show there is an urgent threat for a lot of people and thus for solidarity in our society.
We will collectively put a stop to racism, xenophobia, and neo-Nazis!
The monthly vigil of tolerance and peaceful coexistence – counter-racism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Islamism from the Evangelical Church of Spandau has been announced at 11.00 at Melanchthon Church (Adamstraße / Wilhelmstraße) to protest the right-wing extremist’s demonstration.
Berliner Bündnis Mitgliedsorganisationen
The initiative Berliner Bündnis für ein weltoffenes und tolerantes Berlin, an alliance of churches, trade unions, as well as further actors of civil society, also call to join the protests in Spandau. The Berlin sections of SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and Die Linke joined the call (FB-Event, (PDF)), where it states:
We will not accept that Rudolf Heß is commemorated by neo-Nazis as a hero. The alliance is united in its unequivocal statement against xenophobic, racist, anti-Semitic, nationalist, and inhumane ideology in our city.
The initiative Berliner Bündnis gegen Rechts, and alliance of clubs as well as anti-fascist and left groups, issued a call to join the protests in Spandau and mobilizes to come to the meeting points at 10:00 for a joint travel to Spandau from the city center.
Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen Kreisverband Spandau mobilizes as well to join them at their meeting point at 10:00 at Spandauer Altstadt.
On July 19, the district’s parliament Bezirksverordnetenversammlung (BVV) Spandau, had already and solidly issued a resolution condemning the right-wing extremist demonstration. Bezirksamt Spandau calls all residents of Spandau to join the protests in their press release.
Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus Berlin (MBR) has published an in-depth assessment of the current events, including numbers and backgrounds of the supporters and the right-wing extremist cult surrounding Rudolf Heß. Here is an excerpt:
The demonstration at Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Spandau. starting at 12:00 under the slogan „Mord verjährt nicht“ has been registered to include 500 participants. MBR expects the numbers of participants will exceed that number by far. (…)
Even if the subject of the demonstration will only cater to the interests of the neo-Nazi scene, it is not to be underestimated that there is an important symbolic dimension to the event, as it touches on topics such as the misrepresentation of history, and the glorification of NS ideology via one of its protagonists who openly adhered to it well after its demise. These symbolic dimensions attract wide approval within the scene. (…)
Despite diverse discordance, the event on August 19 in Spandau seems to be able to unite the right-wing extremist scene nationwide: NPD and its youth organizations, structures of “Die Rechte”, diverse comradeship “Kameradschaften” and “Autonome Nationalisten” which consider themselves as part of “Antikapitalistisches Kollektiv (AKK)”, from all federal states called to join. Even commercial mail-order businesses, bands, and individuals called to join. At the recent “Rechtsrock” music festival on July 15 in Themar, Thuringia, with an audience of about 6.000, the event was proactively advertised.
action map right-wing extremist “Heß”-demonstration, August 19, 2017, Berlin-Spandau (as of August 17,2017, subject to change)
view the map online via Smartphone-App „Gegen Nazis“ , with optional service of display of your current location.
routes and meeting points
- 11:00, event of Spandauer Bündnis gegen Rechts, Wilhelmstraße 23 (past location of Kriegsverbrechergefängnis in Wilhelmstadt)
- 11:00, demonstration “Keine Heldenverehrung von Nazikriegsverbrechern in Spandau und anderswo“ starting point : Seegefelder Straße at Spandau train station – Am Bahnhof Spandau – Brunsbütteler Damm – Elsflether Weg – Seeburger Str. – Schmidt-Knobelsdorf-Straße – ending point: Schmidt-Knobelsdorf-Straße/Wilhelmstraße
- 11:00, vigil of tolerance and peaceful coexistence – counter-racism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Islamism from the Evangelical Church of Spandau, Melanchthon-Kirche (Adamstraße/Wilhelmstraße)
- 12:00, starting point of right-wing extremist „Heß“-demonstration: Bahnhof Spandau – Klosterstraße – Wilhelmstraße – Melanchthonplatz – Wilhelmstraße – Gatower Straße – Heerstraße – Pichelsdorfer Straße – Wilhelmstraße – Seeburger Straße – Elsflether Weg – Brunsbütteler Damm – Bahnhof Spandau.
Use twitter hashtag #b1908