Ivan Klima, celebrities support nonviolent blockade of neo-Nazi march in Czech Republic

People are organizing to prevent neo-Nazis from marching on 1 May through the Brno city quarter where the majority of Roma families live. The independent initiative “BRNO Blocks” (BRNO Blokuje) is calling for participation in a nonviolent blockade in Cejl street, the route the neo-Nazis want to take to get into the quarter. Experience from past years confirms that the adherents of Nazism and racism are intent on provocation and spreading hatred and fear.

On Sunday, 1 May, neo-Nazi groups are once again planning to march through the streets of Brno. This year they have intentionally selected a route that leads through the quarter where most Roma families live in Brno. The march is official organized by the youth organization of the Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS). This party was founded by Tomáš Vandas, who was previously chair of the Workers’ Party (Dělnická strana – DS), recently dissolved by the court for its activities aimed at suppressing democracy and supporting militant racism.[1] Previous marches by neo-Nazis in Brno in 2009 were also organized by the Workers’ Party, and the convener of one such march went on to commit arson in Vítkov.[2] The neo-Nazi National Resistance organization (Národní odpor – NO) has also invited its adherents to this year’s march.[3]

The independent civil initiative “BRNO Blocks” (BRNO Blokuje) is standing up to the neo-Nazi march by calling for participation in a nonviolent blockade of Cejl street. The initiative is supported by famous personalities such as singer Iva Bittová, fashion designer Liběna Rochová, clergyman and college instructor Tomáš Halík, the author Ivan Klíma, and the music groups Midi Lidi and Čoko Voko.

“We do not want anyone to have to experience violence, fear, demonstrations of force, terror, or the feeling of powerlessness. Any form of violence is incompatible with a dignified life,” said fashion designer Liběna Rochová.

“I express my sincere moral support to all who stand against the neo-Nazi extremist provocation in Brno in an unequivocally nonviolent but brave and full-hearted way,” says clergyman and college instructor Tomáš Halík.

“The planned neo-Nazi march through a locality where Roma people and members of other minorities live is very dangerous for society. The authorities, courts, and police, however, are either unable or unwilling to prevent such actions,” says Jiří Koželouh, a spokesperson for the “BRNO Blocks” initiative.

“We are attempting to nonviolently prevent the march from taking place. We consider the dissemination of hatred and fear to be unacceptable. A nonviolent blockade is legitimate in this case,” says Petr Porteš, another spokesperson for the “BRNO Blocks” initiative.

Police will most probably just monitor the neo-Nazi action. Of course, a neo-Nazi march through a quarter where Roma families live is a symbol of the fact that 66 years after the end of the Second World War, and two years after neo-Nazis attempted to burn a Roma family alive in Vítkov, society is not able to address the risk that fear, hatred and violence are continuing to spread. If these people are allowed to march undisturbed while chanting their racist slogans through the streets of Brno along the route of Koliště – Cejl – Milady Horákové streets, they will not only feel the streets are theirs, they will have the self-confidence to commit further attacks.

“In other countries such a march would prompt an immediate reaction from the general public and thousands of people would stand in its way. On Sunday, 1 May 2011 we will try to do that in Brno,” says Irena Košíčková, another spokesperson for the “BRNO Blocks” initiative.

The nonviolent initiative is being organized by volunteers of various opinions from various backgrounds and of various ages. They are financing the costs of this action from their own resources. This nonviolent blockade of the neo-Nazi march is not organized by any political party or movement and does not have the aim of promoting any political party or movement.

References:

[1] http://aktualne.centrum.cz/domaci/soudy-a-pravo/clanek.phtml?id=660985

[2] http://zpravy.idnes.cz/vitkovsky-zhar-hlidal-predsedu-delnicke-strany-na-prvomajovem-mitinku-v-brne-1×7-/krimi.asp?c=A091222_205148_krimi_pei

[3] http://www.odpor.org/index.php?page=clanky&kat=&clanek=1187