From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Date: 09 Nov 92 10:56 PST
Subject: EUROPE: Anti-racist groups racing t
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700775:000:4913
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Nov  9 10:56:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: EUROPE: Anti-racist groups racing t

/* Written 12:09 am  Nov  9, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in
igc:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: EUROPE: Anti-racist groups racing to the rescue of
immigrants

an inter press service feature

by alecia mckenzie

brussels, nov 6 (ips) -- ''moroccans out'', ''blacks go home'',
''foreigners equal aids'' -- these are but a few examples of the
racist slogans one can find crudely scrawled across walls in
brussels and other european cities with large immigrant
populations.

but even as the slogans multiply, so are new anti-racist groups
springing up across europe to wage their own battle against
racism.

these efforts will reach a high point next march 21, with a
world-wide ''day against racism'', but several big demonstrations
will take place between now then -- organised by the first
'european anti-racist network for equality'.

the network comprises several groups across western europe which
are seeking a europe ''that is for all its inhabitants... that
respects the right to asylum and...that provides equal rights for
all'', says daniel liebmann, spokesperson for the belgian group
movement against racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia (mrax).

the grouping includes france's sos racism, britain's anti- racist
alliance and standing conference on racial equality, and germany's
bundesdeutschland sos racismus.

the test of the network's strength will start saturday, when
anti-racist demonstrations take place in london, to be followed by
rallies in other major european cities. on sunday, there will be
similar demonstrations in berlin -- the scene of some of the worst
racially motivated attacks in europe in recent months.

then on monday, thousands of people are expected in brussels to
commemorate the ''nuit de cristal'' -- that night in 1938 in
germany when mobs attacked and destroyed jewish homes, shops,
synagogues and schools.

the commemoration, organised by mrax and other groups, will also
draw attention to the plight of refugees in europe and the
measures being taken by european community (ec) member states to
''keep out'' immigrants.

posters announcing the demonstration call on ec citizens to stop
making foreigners the scapegoats for unemployment, housing
shortages and other social ills.(more/ips)

europe: anti-racist groups racing to the rescue of
immigrants(2-e)

europe: anti-racist (2)

''on november ninth, we're appealing to everyone across europe to
continue to take action against racism and fascism and to support
equal rights,'' says liebman's colleague, xemena zavala. ''we have
to strengthen our opposition to racism. it's a duty.''

on the same day, rallies will take place in paris, amsterdam, and
in many towns in germany. then on nov 14, a huge demonstration
will be held in bonn to protest against the government's plans to
change the german constitution which would erode the rights of
asylum seekers.

this rally will take place outside the congress of the opposition
social democratic party (spd), the party which will hold the
deciding vote in changing the constitution.

''the bonn demonstration will be a test for the anti-racist
movement,'' says liebmann of mrax. ''are we strong enough to
prevent a government from withdrawing the right to asylum?''

mrax itself will hold a second demonstration in brussels on nov
22, almost a year after the general elections in which right-wing
parties won 10 percent of the vote in flanders, northern belgium.

the aim of the gathering will be to ''raise consciousness and to
ask whether any progress has been made to correct the situation
that has led to the resurgence of the right'', says liebmann.

meanwhile, other groups are planning similar events for nov 24,
the election anniversary itself. an organisation called 'objectif
479,917' is racing with the calendar to gather as many signatures
against racism and fascism as there were votes for right-wing
parties in last year's elections.

the parties -- vlaamse blok, front national and agir -- together
won exactly 479,917 votes, after a rabid anti-immigrant campaign.
so far 'objectif' has obtained about 420,000 signatures for its
petition, and spokesperson danny goderes says the group is
confident it will achieve its purpose in the next two weeks.

whether it does or not, the group will hold a rally on nov 24,
with guest speakers including former east german prime minister
hans modrow, and african national congress (anc) representative
sesa ngombane.

after the rally, the 'objectif' petition will be sent to the
government, calling for equal political and social rights for
immigrants, and the granting of automatic belgian nationality to
those living here legally for five or more years.
(end/ips/rp-pr/am/cpg/92)