This year a new antifascist group appeared in Warsaw. The group is close to the local anarchist movement and will bring a new spirit into the local antifascist theory and practices. Finally, the group has an international invitation for antifascist around the Europe. So we decided to make an interview with them. And here is the result… ABB

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“The uniqueness of our group is the fact that was established by women, it consists mostly by women who are the heart of AGREEMENT 11.11”.

“The aim of action is also to provoke civil disobedience of different forms and the revival of consent attitudes for direct actions among the people…”

INTERVIEW WITH WARSAW ANTI-FASCISTS

FROM “AGREEMENT 11.11” INICIATIVE

AbolishingBB: 11th November in Poland is traditionally the day of antifascist activities, especially in Warsaw where extreme right from different groups from all over the country organize the march through the city center. Since on that day, Antifa reacts in one or another way every year, what was the reason to create a new antifascist group focusing on this action exactly now? How is the “Agreement 11.11” going to contribute to the movement?

„Agreement 11.11” is designed by people interested in promoting active antifascist attitudes. It was created in Warsaw on summer 2009. Our long-term target, and this is pretty new in Poland, is to build mass antifascist movement aiming towards different social groups and to promote antifascism within the society.

The genesis of the group goes back to the last years International Antifascist Conference “Siempre Antifascista” in Berlin (Germany) and to be more precise, to the discussion one day after that took place among activists from Poland which participated in the conference. We were pondering some alarming issues, one of them being, that the antifascist movement in Poland, as it is now, does not really attract women. This observation was the starting point of the later discussion about how in fact the antifascist attitudes and actions in Poland look like and why women don’t see place for themselves within it. We have started to debate over the aspects which restrict us.

So far, the antifascist movement in Poland gathered around males and its activity was mostly based (except work of NGO’s) strictly on street confrontations. In some cities Antifa militant antifa groups were connected more with football hooligans than with any libertarian groups’ and very often polluted with homophobic and sexistic attitudes. We wanted to change this situation.

The consequence of this was a meeting in June this year, organized by group of women. We discussed about the condition of the anti-fascist movement in Poland in a very critical way. After that we recognized the deep need to change the prevailing situation. The very same day the group was set up. The group is strictly anti-authoritarian, we cooperate nor with the police and state, neither with political parties. We do not tolerate different manifestations of discrimination such sexism and homophobia.

The uniqueness of our group is the fact that was established by women, it consists mostly by women who are the heart of „Agreement 11.11”. Moreover, the group unites people from different circles: anarcho-feminists, squatters and militant antifascist activists. This mixture of different influences causes that our group is focusing on both issues, education and direct action.

Towards ongoing activities, „Agreement 11.11” initiative has started from several-month-long campaign concerns rising awareness about anti-fascism activities. We have already organized discussions, meetings, lectures, film showings and concerts of antifascist bands. The highlight of the campaign will be the Day of Antifascist Action pointing at the neo-fascist legalized march in Warsaw on the Independence Day – 11th of November.

AbolishingBB: Why is this day so important in the context of Poland?

It is not a secret for everybody in Europe that here in Poland, we have strong nationalistic tendencies which are probably even getting stronger. It exists in mainstream media, in state institutions and in society in general. Because of these strong patriotic and conservative tendencies it’s very easy, under the cover of patriotism, to smuggle neo-fascist and neo-nazi ideology, which infiltrates society without any barriers. The society is not educated good enough and it seems that hardly anybody has noticed to where it actually leads.

Additionally, bad economic situation of large parts of our society, high unemployment rates and many other social problems are causing huge frustration. The right wing politicians try to distract our attention from the real problem which is the injustice and inefficiency of capitalism, they plant scapegoats like national or sexual minorities. In that way they re-channeled social rage and disappointment of the actual situation.

Furthermore, education programs for schools are soaked in patriotism and conservative values. Young people are not thaught to think indepentently, or to criticize the reality that surrounds them.

Such phenomenons meet with a favorable response to implant the ideology of hatred. This atmosphere is well disposed towards coming into existence and acting of various radical right organizations and parties like NOP (National Rebirth of Poland), MW (All-Polish Youth), Falanga, and the main group standing behind the march 11.11 – ONR (National-Radical Rebirth).

Unfortunately, one of the most important factors which favors quite free acting of these organizations is, at least until now, a weak antifascist movement…

AbolishingBB: So what are the plans for 11th of November?

This day we organize certain antifascist activities alongside the March route of the neo-nazis. Apart from direct actions there will be a legal demonstration. Street activities are still being discussed. But for sure we want to attract people from different circles. Now, we invite and activate academic circles, youth, refugees and nongovernmental organizations (NGO’s). During the demonstration we want to arouse their interest in other forms of actions. The final of the Day will be a concert. We invited artists representing different music styles to reach different youth circles who might be interested in antifascist activities.

AbolishingBB: What results do you expect? Do you plan any further activities being a consequence of the 11.11 action?

One of the aims of this action is not to let the neo-fascists realize their annual march. In the same time it supposed to be a demonstration of existence and strength of anti-fascist movement and we are sure that by this action new people will join us. Through this action we want to focus the attention on the invisible problem which is the blooming legal neo-fascism. We expect that our resistance will rivet the attention and will be the beginning of the discussion about it. The aim of our action is also to provoke civil disobedience of different forms and the revival of consent attitudes for direct actions among the people.

AbolishingBB: The “11.11” actions in Warsaw are giving the start signal to the International Days of Antifascist Actions under the slogan “Siempre Antifascista”. In this context it’s possible that activists from other regions may come to support you. What should people coming for the action from abroad know ?

On the one side this day means always great mobilization of the police. Last year, during the antifascist blockade, police managed to surround a big part of the people and even take data from many of them. Well, it was our tactical failure from which everybody should learn. Of course, the local anti-repression groups will be working. Important to know is the fact, that on this day the anti-antifa groups are more active as well, but on the other hand the experience shows that they are being mostly effectively neutralized by our movement.

Anyway, before noon on the day there will be an informational meeting for visitors about the situation in the city. We will work out the integration structure in the street actions so that comrades from abroad do not feel lost. We guarantee accommodation for the visitors in private lodgings or on the local squat (we’d be very grateful if you could confirm earlier – by e-mail from the blog – how many people we should expect).

AbolishingBB: Thanx a lot for interesting update. See you in Warsaw on 11.11…

Recent months have seen unprecendent levels of repression against
anti-fascists in Ukraine and Russia. Anti-fascists have been both framed
up and punished for defending themselves against Nazis. In Ukraine,
President proclaimed Antifa to be "extremists" and ordered
the law enforcement agencies "to scrutinize political motives" behind
the death of Nazi activist Maksim Chayka, who died in Odessa after an
attempt to attack 5 anti-fascists with his 15 friends. Referring to
Nazis as "patriots", Yuschenko showed his sympathy with them. Soon
Ukrainian secret service SBU, controlled by president, announced that a
pro-Russian party was behind the death of Chayka. Obviously, this
incident is used by various political forces for internal political
struggle. 22nd of April, anti-fascist from Kiev was kidnapped, beaten up
and transferred to Odessa, but eventually released. SBU is also
claiming, that suspected killer of Chayka is hiding in Russia, and has
demanded his extraction to Ukraine. Even if that is the case, it is
unlikely that he will face a fair and unpartial court after
interventions of the president.

Meanwhile Russia, a country hinted by Yuschenko do be behind Antifa in
Ukraine, is also repressing anti-fascists with a vigor. 21st of April,
Moscow anti-fascist Aleksey "Shkobar" Olesinov was given one year
sentence for a fight in a bar in August 2008 which did not even took
place. 8th of May in St. Petersburg, anti-fascist Aleksey Bychin was
sentenced to 5 years in prison, for a fight with two Nazis (of whom
another was a police officer) in June 2008. 14th of May in Kazan,
anti-fascist Artur Valeev was given 4 year prison sentence for
inflicting minor wounds to Nazis who attacked him and his friend in
November 2008. In Izhevsk, police cooperates regularly with Nazis to
fabricate criminal cases against anti-fascists, during year up to 80
anti-fascists have been arrested for different cases and currently there
are at least two serious felony cases with 6 defendants going on. In
Vladivostok, court proceedings are going on against Yura M., who
accidentally killed one of the two Nazis who assaulted him in November
2008. And at last, Artyom Lokutov, anarchist artist from Novosibirsk was
planted drugs 15th of May, in a blatant attack against alternative
culture in the city as a whole.

Most of the provocations and repressions against Antifa in Russia are
organised by CPE, "Center of Counteraction against Extremism", a new
police department founded in New Year to replace old UBOP,
"Administration of Struggle against Organised Crime". Already before the
rebranding, UBOP was notorious for provocations and even murder of
political activists, so change of name was just final confirmation that
authorities are rather fighting political opposition than mafia.

But whatever they say, Antifa is not sponsored by powers of the "West",
or "East", we may only count on grassroot support around the world. In
face of increasing repression, and where a number of victims of fascist
violence is mounting (in Russia only, during first 4 months of 2009 at
least 23 people were killed and 98 wounded in racist attacks),
Anti-fascists are standing firm in front of attacks of both the state
and racist groups. Today, international solidarity for anti-fascists of
Ukraine and Russia is more necessary than ever!

Anti-fascists from Moscow, Kiev and all around the world

What to do?

Make an action, big or small, targeted against Ukrainian and Russian
authorities in your city 24th or 25th of May. If you do not have
embassies or consulates in your city, you may target any Ukrainian or
Russian major business, most proper target being the Gazprom
corporation, which is pretty much the same as the Russian state. List of
Gazprom subsidiaries is available for example here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gazprom%27s_subsidiaries

If you make an action, please report back to abc-msk AT riseup DOT net!

For more information on recent repression:

http://antifa-action.org.ua/
http://avtonom.org/abc (site currently down at times due to server upgrade)
http://www.myspace.com/abcmsc

A call to action in London 24th of May:
http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos22644.html
This text in Russian: http://avtonom.org/index.php?nid=2526

According to Russian internet news service www.gazeta.ru Russian
authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Saidzon Radzabov, a
migrant worker from Tajikistan.
On the 26th of March Saidzon had been attacked at a train station in
Kolomno (between Moscow and Riazan) by a group of Nazis. This time however
their victim defended himself very well and as  result of this 3 Nazis
died (one on the spot and two died later in hospital because of loss of
blood). The remaining attackers fled the scene.
We salute the brave stand of Saidzon and hope that he will not be caught.


source:
http://gazeta.ru/social/2009/04/16/2975176.shtml


Odessa/Ukraine one Nazi dies after attack on Anti-fascists

On the 17th of Arpil in Odessa (Ukraine) a group of 15 Nazis decided to
approach 5 Anti-fascists sitting outside a shop. After initial verbal
abuse and a bit of pushing and shoving the Nazis attacked and a big fight
resulted from this. During the fight local Nazi activist Maksim Czajka
(his picture here http://antifa-odessa.ucoz.ru/ ) was killed and his
friend is in a serious condition in hospital. Police are investigating the
incident as a case of "hooliganism" and have identified all Nazis taking
part in the attack. As for now we do not know whether Anti-fascists will
face any charges.



On the 18 th of April Polish fascists celebrated the 75 anniversary of the
creation of ONR (National Radical Camp) in the city of Czestochowa in
south Poland. About 200 of them attended a demonstration and a gig that
took place later. Small group of anti-fascists were also in the area to
make sure that at least a few of them will rememeber the celebrations
properly. 4 fascists making their way home had been attacked and left in
sorry state after a quick but frank exchange of views with Anti-fascists.
One of them has described the whole story on the internet forum and is
apparently traumatized after attending his first fascist demo ever :) Also
in the true spirit of unity some fascists had been fighting with each
other during the gig, after they consumed a lot of alcohol and began
arguing which football team is better.

The following message has been sent by the group Anty Nazi Chuligani (Anti
Nazi Hooligans):

"On 18th of April neofascists going to Czestochowa to demonstrate on the
75th anniversary of the creation of ONR (National Radical Camp) were
greeted in Warsaw by "welcoming commitees". All fascists travelling by
trains through Warsaw had been welcomed "warmly and from the heart". As a
result of those greetings some of them were unable to attend
demonstrations in Czestochowa and those that made it wore the clear marks
of "Warsaw hospitality".
Also those coming back from Czestochowa were not forgotten. Despite the
early morning hour those returning had been reminded that in this city
fascists do not have and will not have an easy life. It is also worth
mentioning, that comradeship is not a strong point among fascists.
Gentleman! You don't leave your friends behind to face the muscic!"