#NOPEGIDA – Stand against Europe's far-right

Since November 2014, PEGIDA has been dominating the media discourse in and about Dresden. A crude assemblage of Neo-Nazis, hooligans, enraged conservatives and the self-appointed “mainstream of society” have discovered Dresden as their new marching ground. As we pointed out back then, what unites organizers, participants and sympathizers is a frightening mix of ideologies: behind the alleged peacefulness and the phony indignation about a supposed culture of excessive political correctness, racism, nationalism, chauvinism, islamophobia and at times openly neo-nazistic ideas rear their head. All of this is accompanied by regular eruptions of violence during demonstrations, death- and other violent threats, and hateful rants in the comment sections of online and social media.

Yet despite the dangers PEGIDA is posing, the movement's failure to gain momentum outside of Dresden shows that those who are shouting “We are the people!” are primarily a problem of Saxony, if not specifically of Dresden – a problem which can only be solved by a determined and concerted effort of all local anti-racist factions.

Apparently PEGIDA is concerned about its continued decline in relevance. In an attempt to foster more (inter-)national attention, the movement has invited Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch PVV, to speak at their rally on April 13th. An established “hater of Islam”, Wilders has gained notoriety far beyond the Netherlands for considering Islam to be a “fascist” and “sick” ideology. If it were up to him, the Quran would be banned altogether. It is not surprising that the islamo-racist Wilders and the islamo-racist followers of PEGIDA seem to get along quite well.

This, however, affords PEGIDA a significance that far exceeds Dresden and Saxony. Wilders is just the beginning. If his visit were to become an unopposed success, PEGIDA’s Lutz Bachmann would soon welcome other representatives of the European shift towards the far-right: be it Heinz-Christian Strache from Austria, Nigel Farage from the UK or France’s Marine LePen – the coordination of the growing right-wing forces in Europe is well under way. New about this is not the ideological mix of racism, chauvinism, homophobia and assorted bits of conservative and nationalistic folklore, but its success and the level of acceptance it has gained under the guise of Euroscepticism and the alleged defense of democracy and European values.

Hence, April 13th is not just about Dresden and the protest against PEGIDA! Rather, we are facing a scenario that we and many alongside us have successfully combated for years: Dresden as the location of a European right-wing mass rally, as the focal point of a movement that far exceeds the impact and danger of the thuggish Nazis of the commemoration marches.

That is why we call on everyone in Dresden, Saxony, Germany and Europe, to come to Dresden on April 13th. Let us foil the plan of the Bachmanns, Wilders' and company. Together we will confront racism and stand against the growing strength of the European New Right. We call on all activists of the anti-racist spectrum to contribute, either with activities of their own or by supporting our efforts.

Together we have denied Dresden to the Nazis – with your help we’ll stop PEGIDA as well!

We are Dresden Nazifrei!

No pasaran! #NoPegida!