Neo Nazi
Published by deviousdiva October 1st, 2006 in Neo-nazi.Via Kathimerini
Udo Voigt, president of Germany’s far-right NPD party was in Athens this weekend to attend a rally of Dimitris Zafeiropoulos, the far-right Patriotic Alliance party’s candidate for mayor of Athens.
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece stated in a public letter
it’s strong protest against the insulting presence
of this neo-nazi
Moses Constantini, the Jewish board’s president said that the visit
represents the resurgence of Nazi prototypes and symbols, as well as lack of respect for the memory of the victims
I would like to add my voice to that protest. There were huge demonstrations last year against the hatewave festival that was held here. Udo Voigt was invited to that too. I am not sure if he turned up because the event was turned into a shambles because of the strong opposition to it. This is what I wrote about that and I stand by it.
They are nazis. Just look around the internet at some of their sites. They make me sick. I don’t want to see or hear anymore of it. As far as I am concerned they have NO right to spread their hatred and violence around. I’ve had enough of being tolerant and listening to the censorship arguments, freedom of speech, the right to meet and all that. Right now I want to throw up just from looking at this stuff; the swastikas, the armbands, the hate paraphenalia, the lies and the sickness. If you can stomach it, read some of their forums. We are dealing with very sick people. A LOT of very sick people. I was going to post some links to their sites but I can’t bring myself to do it. Believe me, I know what the reaction will be to this post. But I’ve had enough. I don’t want them here
I would just like to add for those who grapple with the freedom of speech issue in this situation. Do you think, for one minute, that these people would care about my freedom of speech if they got into power. I think not. They are extremists. I thought we didn’t tolerate extremists. Or is it just the Muslim ones we don’t like.
I read this article yesterday and wanted you to post it, but did not know how to send you the link. This visit is following Mylonopoulos’ July 23 comments (which can be read in the Balkan Human Rights Web Pages) which include “if you wash a Jew your soap you will ruin.” He then continues with remarks about Jews surpassing Hitler in their murders. Voight’s visit coincides with the start of the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This alone, adds insult to injury for the Jewish community. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in our times. Last week, at the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana, flags bearing Nazi swastikas were hung before dawn from overpasses on major U.S. highways, giving welcome to commuters on their way to work. Reminiscent of the pre-Olympics graffiti on the road to Olympic Stadium, isn’t it?
The Far Left and Far Right are two sides of the same coin. Ideological fundamentalists who apply certitude to politics contradicting its original purpose. But why are Far Left political parties tolerated and not Far Right?
And why are Far Right parties and movements gaining traction in Europe (and America) again?
And how will the more mainstream political movements react? Will they ignore the threat or will they incorporate some of their ideas as their own to beat them electorally?
Well, it’s sad but Greece is ripe for these wackos.
Sad Example:
I walk in a city park near my home a few times a week, and someone has written in graffiti on the benches the following (in Greek) but I’ll translate for everyone:
It says:
OUT WITH THE FOREIGNERS!! “Dream of a day without Foreigners. All of them (where ever they come from) are criminals and steal from us. One day, Greece will be a paradise again without Foreigners. Long Live Greece! (WITH A SWASTIKA NEXT TO IT)
It’s sad that someone wrote that, but it’s even more sad that the city that this park is in allows that CRAP to remain for over 3 months now. Does this mean that silently they agree with this slogan.
I’m almost tempted to call the city to complain but feel that they will probably just give shrug their shoulders.
Sad commentary could you please tell us whihc park it is and vene better send us a picture of that? We promise we will make noise as we did with other cases of anti-foreigner anti-semitic graffitti whihc led to even belated reaction and a couple of court investigations against nei-nazis.
If DD can add pictures I can send DD the material.
Incidentally there is clear international law that freedom of speech does not protect hate speech.
Yes, definately send me the pictures via email, Panayote. And Sad Commentary if you can take a picture please send it to me and I will pass it on to the Greek Helsinki Monitor. My address is at the top of this page under “contact”
I ask everyone to be vigilant about this sort of hate graffitti. Take pictures, take note of where it is and send it to me. It is disgusting and totally offensive that the municipalities are doing nothing about it (unless people like Panayote and GHM make noise)
It certainly gives the message that it is acceptable. It is not.
Let’s get a campaign going to do something about it….
It is a small soccer field right down the street from the American College (Deree) in Aghia Paraskevi (Gravias ave?) heading towards Mesogian ave away from the College. Right behind this park is some sort of Military installation (Navy?).
Unfotunately, I cannot take a picture because the park is right in front of a Greek military installation, as I mentioned.
The graffiti is located on the exterior wall of the locker room, as well as on the benches where spectators watch the game. Just take a walk around the track and you will see it.
Yes, the street the park is on is Gravias and if you were to keep going straight on Gravias and pass that park you would hit the Attiki Odos.
I think it’s OK to take a picture in the park as long as the lens is not pointing at the military building ? Panayote, do you know our rights on this ? Is it a public park ? Maybe that makes a difference legally ?
If it’s legal, I would be happy to go up there and take pictures. Let me know.
never mind all of you! I live nearby Deree and will try to locate it; how come I did not see it?
DD pls see the photos in your email
Panayote, It is a small, dirt track that people play soccer on during the weekends, and has walkers and joggers at other times.
If you left Deree’ college, you would turn right out of deree college and travel down Gravias, at the end of Deree, there is a road that leads to the mountain but you keep on Gravias, and then immediately you will see the military base on the right hand side, and immediately on your left is that little park.
Then walk inside the track and walk toward the right. You will see a small building that is like a locker room. On the exterior wall that faces the track, you will see a bunch of nazi writing and ΕΞΟ ΞΕΝΟΙ and then there is a bench with several rows of seats for spectators to watch soccer games. On the bottom row (i think) is where the CRAP is also written.
I hope that was explicit enough. If you can’t find it now, then I don’t know what else to do.
I should have mentioned this months ago, because to be honest with you, I’ve been walking in that park for almost 2 years and some of that writing has been there for at least a year and I just ingored but after walking “GIRO-Giro” each day, I finally said that’s a bunch of crap, and decided to mention it today when Diva’s article came out.
Now, anytime I see that crap, I’ll let you know diva.
Thanks Sad Commentary. Please do let me know (and pictures would be cool, if you can)
Thank you for raising an interest in this hateful “crap”. Often we ignore these “minor crimes” and go after the big stuff but sometimes it’s the smallest protests by ordinary people that are the most potent.
no problem I think I know eactly where the field is but have never being inside it or giro giro except driving sometimes
I will go there in the next couple of days
I hope no one will erase it in the meantime
The “evidence” is now at the hands of DD.
Did you know Sad Commentary that anarchists had partly erased or written over them?
I knew that some of the writing on the wall had been erased but didn’t know that anarchists did it. Well, kinda funny. Anarchists protecting our rights to be a foreigner in Greece. Oh well, I’ll take it where I can get it I guess. I’m glad you went there and saw it for yourself Panayote. I’m just mad at myself I didn’t say something for the last few months since I saw it earlier.