6-2-2016 Stop the racist, Europe-wide, PEGIDA gathering in Amsterdam
On Saturday February 6th, the extreme right-wing Pegida wants to come together on the central Dam-square in Amsterdam to spread its racist ideology. 'Laat Ze Niet Lopen' is calling on you to resist against this extreme right gathering. Come to Amsterdam that day and take action against the racists from Pegida! Don't let them march!
Pegida is a German extreme right movement that pretends to be a group of concerned and upstanding citizens. However, appearances can be deceiving. At earlier Pegida gatherings and marches in the Netherlands in Utrecht, Rotterdam and Apeldoorn Pegida supporters made the Hitler salute and attacked anti-racist activists and bystanders. The majority of the demonstrators appeared to be right wing extremists from Germany, Belgium, and Poland. The group of Dutch Pegida protestors was composed almost entirely of known Neo-Nazis. Pegida claims to be against violence, while creating a space for violent racists and neo-nazis to come together and attack people. At the last Pegida demonstration in Germany in Leipzig more that 1.500 neo-fascists and extreme right-wing hooligans attended and over 250 armed neo-nazi’s attacked the student and immigrant area of town in an organised and pre-planned assault.
LaatzeNietLopen.nl, an initiative of AFA-the Netherlands against racist demonstrations and gatherings is calling on you to make the space for the extreme right Pegida as small as possible on February 6th, and to take action against the arrival of extreme rightwing activists in town. Make noise, drown them out, block them, and show them in uncertain terms that they're not welcome! Not in Amsterdam or elsewhere in Europe.
Ignoring them is not an option. Pegida will get attention anyway and will try to spread their racist ideology.
Freedom of Speech
By abusing the right to free speech and demonstration, rightwing extremists create a free space for the glorification of racism and islamophobia. This freedom is just a facade for the intimidation of residents in the city where they are gathering.
Protest!
At earlier Pegida actions, hundreds of people took to the streets to express their anger about a racist march through their streets. The extreme right in the Netherlands is sometimes viewed as merely being a fringe group. The extreme right will only remain on that fringe though if people consequently drown them out and speak out against them. Ignoring them is not an option anymore.
It is still uncertain whether Pegida is going to be allowed by the mayor to meet in front of the national resistance memorial on the Dam square or will be moved elsewhere. It is a good idea to keep an eye on www.laatzenietlopen.nl . You can also follow 'Laat Ze Niet Lopen' on Twitter and Facebook. Leading up to and on the day of the counter-protest, we will provide the latest information, maps of the area and a infostructure.
If you want to come to Amsterdam and need a place to sleep, contact AFA-Amsterdam and they will try to set you up.
Take action against Pegida on February the 6th, and stop the march of the extreme-right! Don't let them walk!