Anti-deportation demonstration in Munich
ab | 25.05.2003 09:24
In Munich, yesterday, Saturday, there was a demonstration against detention and deportation centres taking place, here is a report.
Anti-deportation demonstration in Munich
In Munich, yesterday, Saturday, there was a demonstration against detention and deportation centres taking place, including a rally with every speech translated into three languages (German, French, English). The rally took place at 12 noon till about one o’clock, and the speeches ranged from the representative of the association of togolese women to supporter groups like the Caravan for Human Rights in Nuremberg, but also giving a voice to the affected refugees having to live in the newly introduced deportation centres, which apply high psychological pressure by increased harassment and intimitation policy of police and bureaucratic authorities in order to bully them out of this country.
The demonstration was led by the refugees singing slogans, the supporter groups following with the soundsystem playing incredible good political music (reggae, ska, rap, stuff as from the Anarchist Youth Sampler and good old „Ton Steine Scherben“) and keeping the mic open for the refugees to express their spontaneous concerns and whatever they wanted to say.
A samba group participated in the demonstration and took over the main focus of entertainment when the soundsystem had to leave for a short while after the rally to get prepared for the demonstration.
The demonstration went from the Stachus,which is a well known attraction for tourists and a big open place, passing the Central Station in Munich to the One-World-Centre, which was hosting a big, inclusive community event and party.
A short conflict broke out when the incredible stupid and obvious undercover policeagents (circa 7 of them) tried to inflitrate the demonstration in order to stir up trouble to cause bad publicity and intimitation, but even before this could happen, the organisers and the participants, reacted promptly and assertive by banning these aggressive, troublemaking individuals from the demonstration, telling them they are not wanted at this peaceful event.
The organisers and the demonstration are competent and well able to solve conflicts internally, as well as they seeked permission of the council beforehand to hold the demonstration and were in constant negotiations with the head of police fulfilling all their restrictions, again exposing the hypocrisy of the authorities.
The demonstration was colourful and expressive, including many banners and a puppet, lots of leaflets, stickers and newspapers, there were also two stalls with information material offered in several languages.
What I liked most at the demo, was the participation of many different groups and individuals, many kids were present in all ages and many women, too.
The demonstration was also very much supported by the black community, with the typical white young male activist being clearly and far outnumbered at this event, being quite unusual but very beneficial to the atmosphere.
One of the speeches from the van was imprinted into my memory, as clearly critising how the German public can again vote and bring people into power who suck publicity and run their election campaigns and politics on rascist slogans, and who promote the inhuman treatment of refugees and „rebuilt“ camps, ignoring and trying to forget German history. As well as the connection was made with all the people using mobile phones, but ignoring the conflict in Kongo, where a civil war kills and tortures for the exploitation of the scare resources needed for building the technology of mobile phones, this conflict causing many to flee.
When the demonstration arrived at the One-World community centre, there was a party organised, with several stalls and face-painting for the kids to exotic foods to the participation of the critical consumer association concerning railways and public transport to a taiwanese travel agency to Amnesty International.
Also, there was a stage set up, with some shows of mexican folk dancing to Austrian folk dance to a disabled community daancing and enjoying themselves.
Personal evaluation: In my opinion it was an incredible good event. Well done to the organisers! It was very exciting to have a multilingual event, and such a strong participation and inclusion of the refugees I had hardly ever seen at a lefty demonstration before. It also is fantastic to see the links built up with the local community, breaking through the rascist underlying attitude and isolation pushed by the overall political atmosphere in Bavaria. There was a good mixture of confrontation and assertiveness towards the public, at the same time, it was a tolerant and inclusive event, with a good party atmosphere, not only condemning the situation such as it is now, but building up and promoting a better alternative.
In Munich, yesterday, Saturday, there was a demonstration against detention and deportation centres taking place, including a rally with every speech translated into three languages (German, French, English). The rally took place at 12 noon till about one o’clock, and the speeches ranged from the representative of the association of togolese women to supporter groups like the Caravan for Human Rights in Nuremberg, but also giving a voice to the affected refugees having to live in the newly introduced deportation centres, which apply high psychological pressure by increased harassment and intimitation policy of police and bureaucratic authorities in order to bully them out of this country.
The demonstration was led by the refugees singing slogans, the supporter groups following with the soundsystem playing incredible good political music (reggae, ska, rap, stuff as from the Anarchist Youth Sampler and good old „Ton Steine Scherben“) and keeping the mic open for the refugees to express their spontaneous concerns and whatever they wanted to say.
A samba group participated in the demonstration and took over the main focus of entertainment when the soundsystem had to leave for a short while after the rally to get prepared for the demonstration.
The demonstration went from the Stachus,which is a well known attraction for tourists and a big open place, passing the Central Station in Munich to the One-World-Centre, which was hosting a big, inclusive community event and party.
A short conflict broke out when the incredible stupid and obvious undercover policeagents (circa 7 of them) tried to inflitrate the demonstration in order to stir up trouble to cause bad publicity and intimitation, but even before this could happen, the organisers and the participants, reacted promptly and assertive by banning these aggressive, troublemaking individuals from the demonstration, telling them they are not wanted at this peaceful event.
The organisers and the demonstration are competent and well able to solve conflicts internally, as well as they seeked permission of the council beforehand to hold the demonstration and were in constant negotiations with the head of police fulfilling all their restrictions, again exposing the hypocrisy of the authorities.
The demonstration was colourful and expressive, including many banners and a puppet, lots of leaflets, stickers and newspapers, there were also two stalls with information material offered in several languages.
What I liked most at the demo, was the participation of many different groups and individuals, many kids were present in all ages and many women, too.
The demonstration was also very much supported by the black community, with the typical white young male activist being clearly and far outnumbered at this event, being quite unusual but very beneficial to the atmosphere.
One of the speeches from the van was imprinted into my memory, as clearly critising how the German public can again vote and bring people into power who suck publicity and run their election campaigns and politics on rascist slogans, and who promote the inhuman treatment of refugees and „rebuilt“ camps, ignoring and trying to forget German history. As well as the connection was made with all the people using mobile phones, but ignoring the conflict in Kongo, where a civil war kills and tortures for the exploitation of the scare resources needed for building the technology of mobile phones, this conflict causing many to flee.
When the demonstration arrived at the One-World community centre, there was a party organised, with several stalls and face-painting for the kids to exotic foods to the participation of the critical consumer association concerning railways and public transport to a taiwanese travel agency to Amnesty International.
Also, there was a stage set up, with some shows of mexican folk dancing to Austrian folk dance to a disabled community daancing and enjoying themselves.
Personal evaluation: In my opinion it was an incredible good event. Well done to the organisers! It was very exciting to have a multilingual event, and such a strong participation and inclusion of the refugees I had hardly ever seen at a lefty demonstration before. It also is fantastic to see the links built up with the local community, breaking through the rascist underlying attitude and isolation pushed by the overall political atmosphere in Bavaria. There was a good mixture of confrontation and assertiveness towards the public, at the same time, it was a tolerant and inclusive event, with a good party atmosphere, not only condemning the situation such as it is now, but building up and promoting a better alternative.
ab