Czech Republic's Wenceslas Square to see three protests on the immigration issue this Saturday

Those opposed to receiving refugees in the Czech Republic are heading for the center of Prague this Saturday, as are those who want to express solidarity with immigrants. There will be three separate events at various places along Wenceslas Square during the afternoon of the 18th.

At 14:00 those who object to the dissemination of fear about refugees and to hate speech will gather at the bottom of the square. At 15:00 those who do not want immigrants in the country will assemble at the top.

At 17:00 at the bottom of the square there will be a "People’s Camp" including extremists and groups demanding the immediate closure of the country’s borders and its withdrawal from the European Union. A previous demonstration against immigration took place at that same location on 1 July.  

Approximately 700 people participated in that event. Some brought mock-ups of gallows with them.

Police did not intervene against the demonstrators at the time but investigated the situation once it was over. Some participants and speakers may have committed felonies during the event, according to that investigation.

Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (Czech Social Democratic Party – ČSSD) said it is not possible for such displays of racism and xenophobia to be tolerated. Czech Human Rights Minister Jiří Dienstbier (ČSSD) said such displays are unacceptable and that the issue of immigration needs to be discussed before extremists and populists co-opt it as their issue.

According to the organizers of one of the events this coming Saturday, "carrying a mock-up of a gallows is an absolutely appropriate expression to the Government of our disagreement." The Czech cabinet recently agreed to receive 1 500 refugees by the end of 2017.

Adam B. Bartoš, chair of the extremist National Democracy group, said that "The public’s behavior, on the contrary, is still very restrained". He also said the event this Saturday can demonstrate "the determination of the Czech nation to defend itself against hordes of inadaptable immigrants."

National Democracy will convene its "Second People’s Camp" at 17:00 at the bottom of Wenceslas Square. Speakers will include Czech MP Tomio Okamura and representatives of the Akce D.O.S.T. initiative, the Monarchist Civic Association, and the Holešovská Appeal.

After listening to the speeches, participants will march toward the seat of Government where their "people’s demonstration" will continue. Their demands include immediately closing the country’s borders, introducing border controls with military and police security, repudiating the Schengen agreement, and the holding of a referendum on the Czech Republic withdrawing from the EU.  

At 14:00 an assembly entitled "For Solidarity With Refugees and Against Disseminating Hatred" will have already begun at the bottom of Wenceslas Square. "On Wednesday, 1 July, gallows were carried on Wenceslas Square as a threat to all who dare support the reception of refugees in our country. People expressing compassion for those in need who are of a different race or religion have been publicly accused of treason and are being intimidated with the threat of physical violence," the invitation to their assembly reads.  

The event is being convened by Romana Červenková. She is calling those who will attend "sunshiners" (sluníčkáře, a pejorative term in Czech currently being used to characterize people as gullible or naive – Translator).

Červenková is calling on people to wear yellow and to carry banners with images of the sun. She believes that humor and practical jokes are the greatest weapon.

She is also calling on people to carry Czech flags. "It is important to emphasize that we, too, are fighting for the good of the Czech Republic," the organizer says.

This assembly will be addressed by a college teacher originally from Syria, by the head of the Organization for Aid to Refugees, and by a Romani activist. It will be followed by a procession to nearby Karlovo náměstí, where there will be a picnic.

At 17:00 the Stop Hatred Initiative (Iniciativa Stop nenávisti) will hold simultaneous concerts, "happenings" and theater performances in several cafés and clubs throughout Prague. Prior to that, however, at the top of Wenceslas Square by the statue of Saint Václav, an event called "Let’s Defend Our Country, Our Future and Our Children’s Future" will have begun at 15:00.    

"This republic belongs to those of us who live here. We will fight for what our predecessors fought for. This has long since ceased to be a democratic republic. We don’t want immigrants here and we don’t want to be part of any crazy plans," the organizers of the event at 15:00 have posted to Facebook.

Organizers say they are distancing themselves from "the supporters of totalitarian movements and from any racist displays". Their meeting will be followed by a procession through Prague, the route for which will only be announced once the demonstration was underway, reportedly for security reasons.