Queeruption 6 against fascism Queeruption visitors - 06.06.2004 00:26
About 70 visitors of Queeruption 6 were arrested today at an antifascist demo in the Hague. We protest against the stateviolence and the normality of fascists marching through the streets of our cities. At this moment Queeruption 6 is taking place in Amsterdam, in the squatted Afrika-building. Queeruption is an international d.i.y. gathering of queers from various countries and continents, which are people of all different sexualities, genders, colours, sizes, etcetera. Today we have witnessed two protest marches in Amsterdam and in the Hague, one for more positive freedom and control over one's own body and spirit (the Legalize Streetrave in Amsterdam), the other against the recurrence of fascist sentiments that have never left our society and are always on the prey for our freedoms and all 'deviant' or alternative lifestyles. In the end, if given the chance, such policies and thoughts will come to exclude all sorts of 'deviant' behaviour, and almost anyone should beware of their reach. We do know that for many people, and with good reasons, the two demos are not at all similar, in importance and intention, but we do feel it appropriate to present them as resembling some similar concerns. Both demonstrations were brutally attacked by the police (more details about the Legalize demo are missing however). Without the conviction that it will happen soon, we are convinced of the fact that in the end, the dominant policies will blow up in the faces of the people who make them up. Not withstanding the current call from the populace for more 'security', people will eventually come to realize that the freedom to walk our own streets is worth more than a batallion of riotpolice on every streetcorner. Being queer means having a sense of the plurality of human conduct and being averse to repression, either from right winged mobs or from the state apparatus. Being queer means honouring and respecting diversity of others and oneself. 'Queer' is a slang word meaning 'different', as opposed to 'normal'. What we witnessed today was a blatant example of 'normality', the normality of neonazis legally marching on the streets of our cities, being protected by policemen in riotgear, the sort of normality which represents everything we stand up against. The resistance against this normality was crushed by brutal policeforce, demonstrators being overrun by police horses, being beaten up and injured, getting arrested and fined for 'taking part in an illegal demonstration'. At this moment we still worry about our comrades, friends and loved ones and are waiting for their return. We protest against this 'normality' and we demand the immediate release of all the arrested antifascist demonstrators, whether anonimous or not, whether 'violent' or not, whether Dutch or not. We will continue to fight this 'normality', and cleanse our streets of fascists, racists, sexists and homophobes. We protest against the social democrat mayor of the Hague, who is responsible for the police violence, the 'normality' we've witnessed today. We will continue our struggles, wherever we are. They shall not pass! No pasaran! Some visitors of Queeruption 6 in Amsterdam. |