Report of the MLPD to ICOR on the International Day of Struggle against Fascism and War on 1st September 2017
Existing translations
Report of the MLPD to ICOR on the International Day of Struggle against Fascism and War on 1st September 2017
Everywhere in Germany there were more than 160 rallies, demonstrations and events on the Anti-War Day on 1st September 2017 on the occasion of the international day of struggle against fascism and war. This is ten more than last year. In many cities militant unities of action and demonstrations took place, as in Magdeburg, Ingolstadt, Schwäbisch-Hall, Hamburg or Kassel.
Generally, the number of participants slightly increased in comparison to the year before; in some cities like Hamburg, however, there were fewer participants. The awareness in the working class and among the broad masses about the necessity of a new peace movement is not yet sufficient. The danger of a world war is being underestimated.
In many cities like Düsseldorf and Berlin the struggle for peace was closely connected with the liberation struggle especially of the Palestinians and Kurds. In Magdeburg the police attacked the demonstration in order to confiscate Kurdish symbols. Massive protest developed immediately against this attack.
The work of the MLPD for Anti-War Day was often closely combined with the start of the election campaign of the Internationalist List/MLPD. A special highlight was the youth demonstration of the International Alliance in Stuttgart with more than 200 participants.
The new brochure of the MLPD on the emergence of new-imperialist countries was disseminated and the analysis was publicized in many speeches. Stefan Engel conducted an event on this in the evening of the Anti-War Day; around the Anti-War Day the MLPD organized such events in many cities.
With a call of its own for the Anti-War Day the MLPD has taken a clear position against the danger of a 3rd world war and for the construction of an international anti-imperialist and anti-fascist united front. The clear statement that the peace movement has to oppose all imperialists was discussed very much. In this context the importance of ICOR is increasing.
In connection with the Anti-War Day there was a demonstration on 2nd September in Düsseldorf against a planned tank factory in Turkey in which the German armament corporation Rheinmetall is involved. There was a speech at the opening rally by Gabi Fechtner, chairwoman of the MLPD. One week later, on 9th September, 5000 people demonstrated in Ramstein (Palatinate) against the Air Force base of the USA. This was part of a worldwide campaign against US military bases.
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