Stopping the Nazis in Dresden

[IndianaGreen]

Stopping the Nazis in Dresden

Counterprotesters from all over Germany and Europe gathered in Dresden to prevent neo-Nazis from marching. Alexandra Cooper and Loren Balhorn report.

February 17, 2010

Last year, some 7,000 neo-Nazis marched through Dresden, making it one of the biggest Nazi protests since the Second World War and twice as big as the protest the year before. Left-wing organizers feared that this year, the 65th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden, the demonstration had the potential to be even bigger.

As the German economy stagnates in the midst of the world financial crisis, the far right has found it easier to attract supporters by rallying against social ills like unemployment and the war in Afghanistan. Some parts of rural Germany have already turned into "no-go areas" for immigrants and anti-fascists due to the rising threat of violence from neo-Nazi street gangs.

Dresden, the capitol of neo-Nazi stronghold Saxony, is the site for the annual gathering, which is the highpoint of neo-Nazi mobilization across Germany.

Standing in the snow in temperatures in the mid-20s for over seven hours, protesters were able to stay informed about what was going on in other sections of the city through an Info Radio, set up specifically for blockade purposes, and frequent announcements by organizers.

The neo-Nazis, kept in the direct vicinity of the New Town train station, tried throughout the day to negotiate with police so that they could hold their march. But over and over, the police refused to break up the blockades of counterprotesters in the streets in all directions. There were isolated skirmishes between the two sides, and police employed water canons to break them up; but by and large, the blockades were peaceful.

The city of Dresden tried to have the march banned, but the court had ruled against the ban a day before the protest, arguing that it would have breached the German constitution, which allows the right of public assembly.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/02/17/stopping-nazis-in-dresden

Related thread posted by mgc1961 on Feb-16-10:

Dresden turns back neo-Nazis

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=518464

[NoNothing]

1. Is there a German equivalent of the ACLU?

[Rapier09]

2. And why in god's name

Did those fools think they'd achieve by burning this city to the ground?

As for the Nazies, they are as guilty in the fate of that city as the allies who bombed it;they can take a hike.

[CTyankee]

3. Total war is total war. Firebombing was hideous but it was an all out war.

We can't airbrush our actions in WW2. It was a brutal war and we faced a brutal enemy. And this is what happens. We did the same thing in Japan right before we dropped the atomic bombs...an enemy wants to annihilate you and so you annihilate them. The story of the world, isn't it?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. What

does this have to do with the OP?

[CTyankee]

7. It saddens me that you don't see that. I guess I understand but still...

There were many German people who had nothing to do with the Nazis who were killed, that is all I am saying. I'm not saying that this was right or noble or anything but what it was. This is why I get a little impatient with people who think that waging war can EVER be a clean operation...

[naaman fletcher]

5. Correct..

By our standards, what we (well, the British really) did to Dresden was not right. But, the Nazi's are the ones who declared Total War and did far worse to others so I don't exactly lose sleep over Dresden.

[CTyankee]

8. I know andit's hard to do. We know that there were innocent people involved so we

naturally have issues with it. I know I can't reconcile it. I don't think I ever will. It's a hard problem...

[naaman fletcher]

6. Correct..

By our standards, what we (well, the British really) did to Dresden was not right. But, the Nazi's are the ones who declared Total War and did far worse to others so I don't exactly lose sleep over Dresden.

[Chef Eric]

9. Thanks for posting, IndianaGreen. Good for the counter-protestors! nt