One day before the start of the Antifa Camp in Dortmund from August 24 to September 2, the city suddenly bans the event. Given the fact that no alternative venue can be found quickly, this amounts to preventing the camp. And as if that weren't bad enough, the reasoning sounds like a mockery. In addition to concerns that violent visitors are to be expected, an announced counter-demonstration by Nazis is being blamed. Thus, the brown dimwits have actually succeeded in preventing the camp with their announcement.
The organizers have since decided that they want the camp to take place in Dortmund at all costs. Therefore, they are calling for people to meet at 10 a.m. at Friedensplatz. Regular updates on how things will proceed can always be found at antifacamp.org.
The decision by Mayor Sierau is a political bankruptcy declaration,” says Tobias Schmidt, spokesperson for the Antifa Camp. “Especially the fact that a demonstration against the camp registered by neo-Nazis has been a reason for rejection leaves us speechless. One has to let this sink in: because an organization of violent neo-Nazis, which has been banned since today, wants to demonstrate against our camp, we are denied a permit.
According to Schmidt, such problems were not mentioned in the negotiations. “We were mainly asked about the number of toilets, the water connection, and emergency exits,” Schmidt says. “We assumed and were led to believe that general concerns about the camp had been dispelled. With the current cancellation, the discussions that have taken place with the city in recent days and months are completely devalued. Especially the city's coordination office has proven to be useless.”
Antifascists are particularly outraged by the behavior of the police. “In several conversations, officers from the Dortmund police, for example, Mr. Lukat, the head of the permanent staff, assured us that they did not want to put obstacles in the way of the camp. Now, on the day before the camp is set to be built, the police suddenly presents a horror scenario to persuade the city to deny us the permit. The fact that the city allows the police to dictate its policy in such a way is an unprecedented occurrence and raises questions about the state of the separation of powers in Dortmund.”
The organizers are currently discussing their next steps. “We have constantly sought dialogue with the responsible authorities, but apparently, that has brought nothing. Accepting this cancellation is not an option for us,” Schmidt concludes.
