Created: Thursday, 17 December 2015 16:45

#‎nopegida‬ in Neustadt – Demonstration on Dec 21

That PEGIDA withdrew its application for a demonstration on Theaterplatz (their traditional spot) on December 21st marks a significant drawback for them. That this was not entirely reflected as such in the media is solely due to the ineptitude of the Dresden bureaucracy that opened Lutz Bachmann a window by delaying a decision for an unnecessarily long time. Nevertheless, chasing PEGIDA off the Theaterplatz represents a success for the group “Herz statt Hetze”.

In reply to this, PEGIDA wants to relocate its racist agenda next Monday to the Neustadt-Quarter of Dresden. We resolutely oppose this.

We think it a clear provocation if Bachmann and his followers try to invade the remaining public spaces of leftist sub-culture in Dresden with their racist ideology and hate-speech. We thus ask you to follow our call: Let's show together that Dresden-Neustadt is no place for PEGIDAs racist hate-mongering. We will stage a resolute demonstration through the Neustadt Quarter making it absolutely clear to PEGIDA what we think of their presence. In accordance with our action consensus, the dissent will be loud, clear and decisive. There will be no escalation from our side.

In full appreciation of the motto “Act apart but work united”, our demonstration will merge with the protest of “Herz statt Hetze” on Theaterplatz. We will set a strong signal for a culture of welcome and against racism. We won’t allow us to be divided and support each other in solidarity.

A specific rally-point and further information about our demonstration will be communicated after our cooperation-meeting with city officials on Thursday.

Created: Monday, 19 October 2015 09:15

+++ Info on todays demonstrations +++

Below all relevant information in bullet points:

• Form groups; stay together!
• Joint arrivals are planned from Freiberg, Leipzig, Chemnitz und Berlin. Further info on  facebook.
• Starting points of todays demonstrations: There are four demonstrations and one rally scheduled. In ascending starting times those are as follows:
  • 4:20pm Demonstration from the University (Bergstraße) to Altmarkt
  • 5pm Demonstration from Bahnhof Neustadt to Schlossplatz
  • 5:30pm Demonstration from Bahnhof Mitte to Postplatz
  • 6:00pm Demonstration from Strassburger Platz to Frauenkirche
  • starting around 5:30pm there is a Rally at Taschenbergpalais

A fifth Demonstration (Ostra-Gehege, Devrientstraße, Terassenufer) was not allowed by the city as this is the path for PEGIDA to reach their rally point at Theaterplatz.
For those who are unsure of the lay of the land in Dresden, can't decide which demonstration to join or who have a keen eye for tactical opportunities - the Demonstration starting from Bahnhof Mitte ist likely a good starting point.

•  Vuvuzelas, whistles, pan lids and other means of generating noise are likely useful accesories (don't forget ear plugs!).
• Same goes for signs, banner etc. A small step-by-step guide can be found here.
• Maps with all demonstration routes will be distributed from our speaker cars. You can download and print your own copy here. IT IS HIGHLY ADVISED TO BRING YOUR OWN COPY OF THIS MAP.
• We will inform you about the going-ons via info-ticker (http://ticker.dresden-nazifrei.com/), twitter (https://twitter.com/dd_nazifrei) and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dresden.stellt.sich.quer). Hashtags‪ are: #‎partycrashen‬ and #‎DD1910‬. Please stay informed! The quadrants used will refer to those of the above mentioned maps (yet another reason to bring your own copy). Other actors will inform via twitter as well (e.g. @antifa_dresden and @publikativeorg).
• The EA-number is (0351) 899 60 456. PLEASE USE ONLY IN CASE OF ARREST
• Paramedics can be reached under 0159/03544134 (check Sanizentrale.de)

We wish us all a sucessful day, #crashing PEGIDAS party!

Created: Tuesday, 20 October 2015 17:07

Big Success and Big Disaster

+++ up to 20000 people join „Heart not Hatred“ marches + major clashes due to Pegida participants + Police tactics end in horrendous disaster +++

On the day after the marches and demonstrations around the first anniversary of the racist Pegida marches in Dresden, the organisers of the counter-campaign “Heart not Hatred” draw mixed conclusions from October, 19th. Tens of thousands of people claimed the streets in the name of humanity and sent a strong signal against the hatred that was once again spread from the Pegida stage. This notwithstanding, violent participants of the Pegida marches caused heavy clashes, and riot-like scenes occurred between Nazis, Hooligans and riot police.

Josef Sternfeld, spokesperson of the „Heart not Hatred“ campaign said: “We are happy that such a large number of Dresdeners, together with people from all over Germany, joined our demonstrations and raised their voices. Overall, an estimated 20000 people followed our call and joined our various events. That it took an entire year of hate-speech, combined with an increasing number of violent attacks originating from the Pegida-movement especially in recent weeks, to reach this number, is giving us pause, however. Yesterday saw demagogic hate-speech being delivered from the Pegida stage yet again and various red lines have once again been crossed by a wide margin. With this in mind, we hope that Dresdeners will continue to deliver a clear message over the following weeks and will continue to decisively oppose Pegida.”

All organisers agreed in their evaluation of yesterdays' police operations, which could only be described as a combination of being overwhelmed with the situation while employing wrong tactics to cope with it. The extreme hate-speech from Akif Pirinçci alone should have been more than enough to cancel the Pegida rally on the spot. That this didn’t happen raises the question whether the authorities have already surrendered to the hatred being disseminated by such a large group of people.

Silvio Lang, spokesperson of the alliance “Dresden Nazifrei” said: “It is once again the home secretary of Saxony, Markus Ulbig, who is politically responsible for the catastrophic police work last night. His officers were too few in numbers, badly prepared and followed the wrong tactics. According to multiple accounts, they repeatedly created dangerous situations instead of defusing them. The Postplatz-Concert, for example, an officially declared and approved event that was frequented by families with small children and elderly people, had to be abandoned altogether, as participants were forced to run from attacking Hooligans and Nazis. No police whatsoever was present to safeguard the concert and many Pegida-participants left their rally in a rather uncontrolled manner. Multiple sources suggest that police forces deliberately opened up previously secured areas around the “Zwingerteich” and thus enabled violent Pegida participants to reach counter demonstrants.

The organisers expect a thorough investigation by the saxon government into the reasons last nights' events and a clear statement regarding the violence that originated from right-wing Hooligans and other Pegida participants. All organisers of “Heart not Hatred” will discuss possible future events in due course. “In light of last nights’ events and the development of the Pegida movement, we deem it necessary to continue to stand up for humanity and protest the racist propaganda occurring in Dresden every Monday,” both Sternfeld and Lang concluded.

Created: Thursday, 15 October 2015 05:01

+++ Map of Demonstrations – Heart, not hatred! +++

Here is the map for all of the demonstrations for Oct. 19th! A print version can be fond here (15,6 MB).