Anti-fascist actions in Russian cities

On March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (celebrated since 1966), anti-fascist actions were held in many Russian cities.

Activists of the Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM) of the cities of Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Chelyabinsk and Ufa took part in the inter-regional information campaign "STOP racism!".

In Voronezh, MPD activists dressed in paper outfits with the inscriptions "Tolerance 4ever", "Stop racism!" etc. and proceeded along the avenue to one of the VSU buildings, chanting: "STOP racism!" and "It's a shame to be a racist!". Passers-by and students were given anti-fascist leaflets.

In Krasnodar, an action with the same name ("Stop, racism!") was organized and carried out by the youth group for tolerance "ETNIKA" as part of the international campaign of the UNITED European Network (European Network Against Fascism and Racism in Support of Migrants and Refugees), as well as the Youth Network Against racism and intolerance. The action was held near the building of the Kuban State University under the slogan "It's a shame to be a racist!" and "March 21 is International Day Against Racism". Passers-by were offered to answer the question: "There is a theory that on earth, according to all genetic indications, there is only one race - the human - do you consider this a reality or a myth?" About 60 people were interviewed. Many spoke about the facts of racism and intolerance in the city, which go unnoticed. Others, receiving a leaflet "Shame on being a racist!", replied that this did not apply to them. Some young people openly admitted that they were "racists".

In Moscow, the Center for Interethnic Cooperation, together with the youth national organizations of Moscow, held two events. On March 17, 2005, a press conference was held at the Independent Press Center: We won the war. But we did not defeat fascism; It was attended by: Ashot Hayrapetyan (Center for Interethnic Cooperation), Tatyana Khrechkova (Union of Youth), Alexey Kolganov (Moscow Jewish organization: MAROM;), Katrin Hoehne from Germany, Levon Dimaksian from Georgia and Muzafar Akdotov from Tajikistan. On March 19, a "round table" was held at the Russian-German House "The fight against racism: what can youth organizations do?" chaired by Ashot Hayrapetyan. The meeting was attended by representatives of the German Youth Union, the Union of Armenians of Russia, the Jewish organization :MAROM;, the Association of Russian Georgians, students of Moscow universities. Participants discussed the problems of "racism", "nationalism", "fascism" and "xenophobia" and the possible consequences of ignoring these problems by society. The participants agreed that ethno-national organizations should not "go in cycles" only on issues of their own culture, they should contribute to intercultural interaction and fight against racism.

During the European Week against Racism, which ended on March 21, various anti-fascist actions were also held in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Vladimir, Krasnodar, Samara, Petrozavodsk, Kaluga, Kharkov , etc.

Members of the Ulyanovsk youth public organizations "Guarantee" and "Green" Yabloko "are concerned that "on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Victory, no measures are being taken in the city to prevent fascism, there are more and more fascist inscriptions on the streets, in some areas the townspeople found in boxes leaflets with an appeal to join the RNE " . Activists of these organizations are going to attract volunteers and clear the city of fascist inscriptions and symbols. The action is called "They will not pass! - NO Pasaran!" starts in Ulyanovsk on April 1, 2005. Stickers and leaflets telling about the threat of fascism and the activities of the RNE will be distributed among the youth.

Sources

• Voronezh. Interregional information campaign "STOP racism!" // Regions.RU. 2005. March 23.
• In Krasnodar, the action "Stop, racism!" // Yuga.RU. March 23, 2005.
• Young Ulyanovsk residents will clean the city from the swastika // Social Information Agency. 2005. March 23.
• European Week against Racism //interethnic.org. 2005. March 22.