Germany’s racial tensions spill on to the streets of Chemnitz

FT ^ | 8/31/18 | Guy Chazan

[aquila48]

Michael Kretschmer, prime minister of the German state of Saxony, knew he was entering the lion’s den. But even he looked unprepared for the boos, whistles and catcalls that greeted him in Chemnitz, a city boiling over with rage and hurt. 

Addressing a town-hall meeting of locals reeling from the murder of a 35-year-old man in the city last weekend, Mr Kretschmer insisted they should have distanced themselves from the rightwing extremists who hijacked their peaceful protest over the killing, which authorities suspect was carried out by a Syrian and an Iraqi.

“It’s not a good thing to be in a demonstration where people are giving the Hitler salute,” he said. “Then it is time to say: ‘We will have nothing to do with those people.’”

The reaction was furious. “You are making out that the worst thing that happened was the Nazi salute,” one man retorted. “The worst thing was that a bloke got killed.” 

Chemnitz, Saxony’s third-biggest city, has become a symbol of the relentless rise of the hard right in Germany. At a series of demonstrations this week, young men in black hoodies chanted “Germany for the Germans” and “Foreigners Out”.

[myerson]

That salute was used by Nazis, but was and is not only used by Nazis.

[Moltke]

Judging by the background cheers and music, this was probably part of a carnival procession. I.e., just for fun.

[aquila48]

“The NAZI salutes are not helping their cause. Oh would Germany return to its Christian roots and rally behind that banner, and not pay lip-service to it.”

You’re dreaming if you think that Christians would not be demonized. You would be called a fundamentalist religious bigot. It doesn’t matter under what banner you oppose them. Your mere opposition makes you evil to be eliminated.

Stop worrying about what they call you and eviscerate them. They see you as their enemy, it’s time we do the same.