International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

Day of Commemoration and Discussion at ACCEPT, Bucharest

November 9, 2001

 

By Kyra Stoddart, ACCEPT Volunteer

 

On November 9, 2001 ACCEPT (the Bucharest Acceptance Group) hosted an event for the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism to take a stand against intolerance and commit to fight against prejudice and racism in Romania.  One moderator from ACCEPT and three speakers (Jewish, Roma, and Gay-Christian) led the evening's program with the 18 participants who attended. Following the speakers' presentations and a group discussion the film "Paragraph 175" was screened that documents homosexual life in Germany from the turn of the 20^th century through World War II. Participants wore different colored triangles signifying the groups as they were differentiated in the Nazi concentration camps: yellow stars for Jews, pink triangles for homosexuals and black triangles for Roma. Everyone who believed in the anti-fascist message of the evening wore red triangles as a badge of honor signifying their resistance against fascism.

 

The International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism is a day to commemorate "Kristallnacht" when on November 9^th, 1938 the Nazis began their pogrom against the Jews. This pogrom is seen as the symbolical beginning of the Holocaust. By the end of the war, in addition to the approximately six million Jews who were the targets of a complete annihilation policy, were an estimated 5.5 million "enemies of the German state": criminals and 'asocials', people with mental disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's witnesses, political offenders and Roma and Sinti.

 

This day does not stop with the commemoration of victims of the Nazi era, it is also a day in which all those who are against nationalism, racism and fascism will protest against all forms of intolerance and prejudice today. Throughout Europe beatings of Roma often go unremarked and unreported, let alone that they are punished. In addition, the quality of life and opportunities of other minority groups are affected because of widespread institutions such as the police, justice system and health services.

 

 In order to change these attitudes to build a better future, ACCEPT members organized this event to protest together against intolerance and commit to not accepting prejudice in Romania - whether it be a homophobic remark from a friend or a violent act against a Roma, homosexual or religious minority.

 

http://www.accept-romania.ro/