Today commemorates the worst act in human history, the consequence of fascist ideas and incitement. “You are not responsible for what happened. But it’s important that it doesn’t happen again“. The warning words of Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer get to the heart of why we need to be active today.
Almost every day, prominent people such as Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and Alice Weidel are attracting attention with disturbing, shameful, history-twisting statements that stir up a dangerous atmosphere. New details are constantly becoming known about the FPÖ’s democracy-threatening restructuring plans for the Austrian state in the event of government participation.
At the same time, the new right-wing extremism report documents their highly dangerous connections and connections to right-wing extremist and neo-Nazi circles. Its sister party AfD in Germany even surpasses this in some areas, right-wing extremist thinkers appear openly at party conferences there, entire state associations are now classified as right-wing extremist and stylistic devices from the Nazi era are even used unabashedly in the election campaign.
Defensive civil society in response to intensified dynamics
In this dynamic, independent journalists and researchers as well as critics in general are confronted with more and more repression at different levels by right-wing extremists – ranging from intimidation complaints to targeted public denunciations to physical attacks. But these diverse actors stand in the way of all of us against the current fascist trends and attacks on the culture of remembrance, minorities and women and strengthen our social cohesion.
With every electoral success of extreme right-wing parties, the ongoing dynamic of hatred and aggression continues to intensify, and the state security apparatus now appears to be overwhelmed. This makes it all the more important now, at the latest, to have a defensive civil society that also has the means and options to protect itself from right-wing extremist violence.
Another collection for #anti-rights protection
The non-profit foundation COMÚN is therefore calling for collections for #counter-rights protection on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Because commemoration is not just a form of coming to terms with the past, it is also a reminder of our responsibility in the here and now. Counter-legal protection represents a pot from which costs for legal advice and legal assistance, but also protective measures and anti-fascist awareness-raising are financed.
The COMÚN Foundation’s #counterlegal protection was first filled with around 35,000 euros at the end of 2023, and its funds were used to finance important activities in 2024 – including legal assistance for scientists, protective measures for people at risk in Germany and Austria, the promotion of investigative research, etc Memorial work for the victims of National Socialism and Austrofascism.
Fundraising is now underway via the COMÚN homepage; all donations will be passed on without any deductions and are tax deductible.
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