Freedom and happiness for Volker, Daniela and Burkhard!
We share the call from EA-Dresden for the 18 march
ralley
18 march , 5:45 pm | Robinienhain, JVA Hammerweg
This year, on March 18, the “Day of Political Prisoners”, we are once again marching in front of the walls of Dresden Prison. Maja is imprisoned there for attacks on neo-Nazis in Hungary. Not far away is also the place where our comrades were tried for many months in the Antifa Ost trial and ultimately sentenced. Far away are all the other Antifas who are currently in prison, like Gabri, Illaria and Tobi, or who are on the run. Volker and Burkhard are also still in hiding and far away – but who knows for sure. Daniela, on the other hand, has to come to terms with the new reality of a prison in Vechta.
Just a moment ago, it was our anti-fascist and climate movement comrades who were vilified by the prevailing opinion as RAF descendants in order to drown out the validity of their arguments. People who had done nothing more than stick themselves somewhere were met by politicians with the RAF club. And antifascists who set out to stand up to the fascists on the streets were accused of being the ones who would start a revolution the day after tomorrow.
And suddenly, there it is again, the RAF, which until recently had been drinking beer in a moth box with the spirit of communism. Yesterday’s terrorists, who are today’s pensioners, are now being hunted down with guns and tanks at the ready. Restraint and de-escalation are demanded of them by a state that is so clearly excessive when it comes to taking action against left-wingers. We wish the two fugitives all the best and send our regards to all others in prison and on the run who are not mentioned here.
Political persecution – what’s it to me?
“Political prisoners” – that sounds so dusty, so reminiscent of the RAF and perhaps National Socialism, for many it still rings the bells of the GDR. That may be partly true, because at least in this country you can still say what’s on your mind. But if you really set out to do more than just watch as the planet is destroyed by climate change, democracy and freedom of expression by fascists and your own life by poverty, you will quickly end up where only criminals are supposed to end up: in the hole.
Prison is the visible raised index finger: if you don’t stick to our rules, we’ll lock you up here and then your life will be fucked. And if these rules are made by politicians, aren’t they political? Isn’t it a political decision if joyriders, shoplifters and bank robbers end up in jail while bankers and right-wing demagogues walk around freely? Is it not a political decision to punish poverty while the rich deduct their fines from their taxes?
Ultimately, all the rules of our coexistence are political. Living together creates friction, which means that we also need solutions to conflicts.They exist. And when people screw up, they have to bear the consequences. That is clear. But prison is just a detention center. Instead of dealing with the social causes of conflicts, it locks individuals away.
We say, get rid of prison, because it doesn’t make anything better!