Hey, I’m Josie, and I’m from a place we affectionately call the Saxon Hinterland. I’m here to remind you that we need your help in the fight we have to wage in Döbeln, Leisnig, Waldheim, and all the other small towns in central Saxony.
We all followed the last elections closely. We were all shocked by the high results of the AfD. We were all hurt when Fritze Merz was elected as our new chancellor, even if it took two rounds to get there. But we were also relieved when the AfD was FINALLY classified as openly right-wing extremist nationwide, even though I wondered if I should be shocked. To be honest, I had to laugh when the AfD demanded that the CDU also be investigated in this regard. When the time comes, I will also ask myself whether I should be shocked. Because, well, if Fritze represents the party, the result will probably be clear.
However, our struggle is not only taking place on a political level. It is also taking place on the streets.
On the streets where 800 fascists marched in Bautzen last year, where 400 fascists marched in Leipzig last year, where 150 fascists marched two weeks ago at the CSD here in Dresden, where fascists marched last week in Stollberg, on the streets where CSDs were shut down by the police because they were not political enough. On the streets that have been polluted with butyric acid for the last three years during our CSD in Döbeln. On the streets where no CSDs or Pride events can take place this year due to the high level of danger. On the streets where FLINTA people are stared at, catcalled, attacked, injured, and killed.
It is on these very streets that our struggle takes place. But we are not only fighting for the people here, we are also fighting for the people who are currently on the streets of Los Angeles fighting against ICE, fighting against Donald Trump’s dictatorship, because no one is illegal on stolen land. We are also fighting for the people in over 60 countries who are sentenced to prison if they are visibly queer, and for those in six countries who are legally killed for it, because it should not matter who loves whom. We fight for queer people in Iraq who are kidnapped and tortured AND we fight for queer people in Russia who have to contend with so-called “cleansing campaigns” and forced deportations. We also fight for civilians in war zones, for feminists, for disabled people, for migrants and BIPoC, and for anti-fascists, whether on the streets, underground, or in prison. Our weapon is solidarity!
Nevertheless, we must focus our attention on our region. I would like to take this opportunity to describe the situation in Döbeln to you: It is 2022. The first CSD ever. The squares stink, people are getting stomachaches and headaches. The cause? Butyric acid placed there by fascists the night before. The CSD is in full swing, and on the other side?
Fascists! Their slogan: Anne becomes Frank, that’s sick. Transphobic and antisemitic. 2023: The squares stink, counter-demonstration, the slogan: Attention! Gender madness in the school timetable! 2024: The squares stink, 250 fascists on the other side, mobilized by Stefan Trautmann from the Free Saxons, with statements such as “LGBTQ – Curiosities – Parade” and “Gender – Circus.” And these 250 fascists? Well, they stood a few meters away from us and followed us the entire way. The Chemnitz assembly authority allowed us to be chased through the city by fascists.
And that’s not all that’s happening in Döbeln. In Töpelwinkel, a leisure and recreation resort, the JN met for a so-called “community day.” It was officially registered as a birthday party. But what actually happened there is a clear indication that it is the right wing that is imposing its ideology on children. There were training sessions with alcoholic rituals, morning roll calls, and violence instruction for young people between the ages of 13 and 18. It seems as if they copied this from the Hitler Youth of the past, only this time they shouted “Heil euch” and did not salute their leader.
As you can see, the world is moving further and further to the right, living more and more openly, influencing children. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in America, Uganda, Russia, Iraq, or Germany. This must be prevented. But all of this must also and above all take place in the Hinterland, and for that we need you. Fascists are networked in the Hinterland and find locations where they can “train.” A stable left-wing presence is needed in Döbeln. So once again, a short appeal to you: “Support your local Hinterland!” Come to Freiberg on September 7 to support their CSD and come to Döbeln on September 20 to stand with us as we show the fascists how many of us there are, that we are loud and colorful, and that we will not give up, because WHETHER IN THE BIG CITY OR THE HINTERLAND, QUEER RESISTANCE LIVES ON. Alerta!