9 November 1938 marked the beginning of the “Kristallnacht” pogrom¹ and it is seen today as the symbolic beginning of the Holocaust, the policy of systematically murdering millions of people. It reminds us that such terrible things did not start with deportations and concentration camps, but developed step by step.
Nazi propaganda and hate speech against Jews and laws depriving Jewish citizens of their rights – as happened with the “Nuremberg Laws” which, among other things, stripped German Jews of their citizenship – were the first steps which eventually culminated in violence and pogroms.

Looking to the right-wing tendencies in modern Europe, we must be aware that history can be repeated and the Holocaust happened with the silent acceptance and support of the broad majority. Nowadays, right-wing extremism is a rising force on the entire continent. Hate crimes are turning into regular realities, extreme right-wing parties are elected into local and national parliaments and xenophobic propaganda is becoming legitimate in societies.

“A global financial crisis, rapidly rising cost of living, unemployment and job insecurity, erosion of the welfare state, against the backcloth of nationalism, war, and militarisation – do we even need to ask the question, why campaign against fascism today?  Extreme-Right electoral parties search for scapegoats, encourage us to hate our neighbour. Centre-Right parties dismantle welfare and attack civil rights. Centre-Left parties are weak; some even follow the Right agenda. Antifascism is not a dogma, but a simple human response to injustice based on solidarity – and in Europe today that means solidarity with Muslims, Roma, Black people and Jews, with migrant workers, refugees, with the other vulnerable communities the neo-nazis attack. We do not want to see young people indoctrinated into a culture of hate. Who else can resist but us – the ordinary decent citizens of Europe?”
Liz, Institute of Race Relations (UK)


Never Again!

On 9 November 1938, nazi Germany started a pogrom against Jewish people. SA Storm Troopers and civilians destroyed more than 8000 Jewish homes and shops, set synagogues on fire, imprisoned, injured and killed Jews all across the country. Pieces of broken windows covering the streets in many German cities gave rise to the name “Kristallnacht” which freely translated means the Night of Broken Glass.
The “Kristallnacht” pogrom is seen as the start of the systematic eradication of Jewish people which had started with the discrimination and exclusion of the German Jews since 1933 and which eventually led to the murder of approximately 6 million Jewish people and 5,5 million “enemies of the German state”: homosexuals, criminals and “asocial” people, members of diverse
 religious communities, people with mental disabilities, political “offenders” such as communists and socialists, Spanish republican refugees and minorities like Roma and Sinti among others.

““Never Again” is both a driving force and a watchword that must warn us that we must collectively ensure that fascism, propelled by a racialist view of the world must never, ever, be allowed to wield power again in any way, shape or form. We all know what happened the first time round between 1933 and 1945, especially. We do not need a second helping.
It is still relevant because the existence and threat of fascism, antisemitism, racism and homophobia have not evaporated and have never gone away. Nor will they until we completely restructure society on the basis of economic, social and political equality for all humanity, the very things that our fascist and racist enemies hate most of all.
Graeme, Searchlight Magazine (UK)

All of my grandparents perished in gas chambers in Auschwitz, together with millions of the Holocaust victims, my parents survived four years in a concentration camp. They were afraid that something like that could happen again. Unfortunately, they were right – now there are people who have learned nothing. They hate others, they learn how to kill, they adore Adolf Hitler, even in Russia, they slaughter other human beings. Everyone of us is obliged to stop them.
Mirek, Friends of Nature Czechia (CZ)

Unfortunately people tend to forget, and if we forget it will happen again. The concept of “Never again” is not only relevant today but it is relevant in all times in the future. It is time that we finally use history to learn from it.
Stefan, Centre for Intercultural Dialogue (MK)

Because we say “No!” to government’s ignorance towards human rights, the supremacy of one nation over another, against bureaucracy and indifference of politicians, against silencing of freedom of speech, against restrictions of fundamental human rights. We say “ Never again!” to mass killings and extermination of our neighbours because of their gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, social status or disability.
And we say “Yes” to common work towards eliminating hatred, fostering peace, dialogue and respect culture in our community.”
Natalija, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (LT)


Being an Antifascist

Antifascism takes many different forms, or voices. How we choose to embody antifascism comes from personal experience and political standpoints. What does being an antifascist mean to you?

“It is, of course, fighting politically against all the apparitions of neofascists and neonazis. It is also fighting against the new appearances of old racist thematics, developed today by so-called right wing populism. It is then to fight not only the parties, but all ultra-conservative, reactionary, racist, securitarist ideas which are now present in mainstream parties. It is to fight from the roots an anti-social system that leaves people in social despair and atomisation, giving a space for right-wing populism to act. It is to fight for freedom, equality, justice, solidarity. It is to be part of a global movement for human emancipation.”
Robert, Antifascist Journalist and Activist (F)

“To be an Antifascist today means above all to be aware of all the different forms that fascism can take on. It adapts to societies, finds new victims, uses new technologies, and tries to pass itself off as a reasonable and realistic ideology. The only characteristic that remains constant is its innate and unrelenting hatred towards human beings.”
Amila, Independent World Report (BH)

“For me being an antifascist today is a difficult task, because the phenomenon which we try to confront is becoming more and more complicated. Now it’s not just the ruling regime of one or several states, it is a complex ideology, the elements of which – intolerance, militarism and totalitarian thinking – can be found nearly everywhere: in the populist speeches of politicians, in the media, in youth subcultures and the views and attitudes of ordinary people. Such a phenomenon cannot be confronted by a set of simple arguments and actions. It is the right-wing who suggest simple answers to the complicated and controversial issues of modern social reality. And the antifascist of today has to be at the same time a researcher, an educator and a good public speaker to be able to reveal the false and inhumane nature of those “simple answers”.”
Konstantin, Youth Human Rights Movement (RUS)

“To be an antifascist may mean different things to different people. For us it means breaking the silence and raising awareness of the problem of racism and xenophobia. We want to promote multicultural understanding and to contribute to the development of a democratic civil society. Education against racial and ethnic prejudices among the young is a key issue today. We must build a broad and inclusive movement against racism and discrimination. The goal must be to eliminate or marginalize racist, xenophobic and antisemitic tendencies in various spheres of life: football, music, politics ...”
Rafal, Never Again Association (PL)

“In my view, to be an antifascist is both a moral obligation and a permanent commitment to democracy shaped by core principles based in human rights and human dignity. To be an antifascist means to be active against hatred, motivate yourself and motivate others to keep on working for democracy; to have a clear vision about how important the individual contribution for that cause is.”
Valentin, Movement Against Intolerance (E)

Since the early 1990s, UNITED for Intercultural Action has coordinated and inspired annual pan-European antifascist activities on 9 November. The aim is two-fold; firstly, we commemorate victims of the “Kristallnacht” pogrom and, more broadly, victims of the Holocaust and of fascism throughout history. Secondly, we want to warn societies about the danger of nationalism,
racism, antisemitism, right-wing extremism and neo-fascism today. We want to mobilise different groups and individuals to build a common front against hate ideologies and violence.

“The only common ground that can unite a diverse Antifascist movement is the common problem we see. Fighting it together or one by one is important enough. The key point in the question is “diverse” but it is also “antifascist”. Those two things are enough to start working. These two points are also what gives strength to the movement and brings new ideas and people in.”
Irene, “No Border Project” Social Action Centre (UA)

Take part in the UNITED Campaign!

• Make sure your event is included in the European List of Activities! Inform UNITED about your planned activities including the contact details of your organisation.

• Make use of this poster! Order (max. 100 posters) for free from the UNITED secretariat.

• Get inspired by our information leaflet ‘Get Active - The ‘How to organise an activity?’ Guide’.

Look at www.unitedagainstracism.org under ‘publications’.

• Keep in touch with UNITED’s secretariat to spread your new ideas to the network and to provide it with recent information.

Remember...

• ...that most activities are organised on a low- or no- budget basis. So ‘no money’ need not necessarily mean ‘no action’.

UNITED for Intercultural Action is the European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. More than 550 organisations from a wide variety of backgrounds, from 48 European countries, work together in common activities, such as European-wide campaigns. Like-minded organisations have the opportunity to meet each other at conferences and elaborate specific projects. UNITED is and will remain independent from all political parties, organisations and states, but seeks an active co-operation with other antiracist initiatives in Europe. Information is received from more than 2000 organisations and mailings go out to about 2300 groups in Europe. Let us know if you want to get involved! And add UNITED to your mailing list!