US First Of May Anarchist Alliance members report back
from German anti-PEGIDA demonstrations
Ikemba, a new member of First of May Anarchist Alliance is now training in Germany with a
professional soccer club. Here is his report from anti-fascist protests in Frankfurt
earlier this past March against a new racist, right-wing formation – PEGIDA – Patriotic
Europeans Against the Islamazation of the West. ---- When the incident of Michael Brown
being slain at the hands of the individuals who are supposedly protecting and serving the
masses occurred in August I was in Germany, pursuing a professional soccer career. I felt
miserable that I was in Germany and I couldn’t find a way in which I could support
individuals who were just as enraged as me through direct action. I was happy, enjoying
Germany and new experiences, while things in the United States were occurring, that I
felt, I needed to be a part of. Eventually, I made my way back to the United States and I
quickly began attending protests against police violence.
I felt I needed to be involved, although I am often annoyed with the sheer symbolism of
protesting rather than there actually being demands made. With that being said, I was
content with the militancy that was taking place in Ferguson. I ended up driving down to
Ferguson the day after the announcement of the “no indictment” of officer Darren Wilson. I
was eager to be involved in protesting, that I felt, would be militant in a way that not
many protest in the United States are.
In order to continue my soccer career, I had to make a tough decision to move back to
Germany. However, before I left I made a promise to myself that I would not go anywhere in
the world without being politically active in some way, shape, or form. While back in the
states I met another soccer player who was from Germany, he told me that his brother was
heavily involved with ANTIFA movements and that the right wing – neo-nazi, fascists – were
gaining a significant following. In my head I knew that’s where I could get involved and
decided that moving back to Germany wouldn’t hinder me politically.
The week I got to Germany I ended up meeting a girl who started talking to me about
PEGIDA. I had no idea what PEGIDA was, until a bit of googling took place. PEGIDA –
Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamazation of the West – aka neo-nazi fascists. She told
me that every Monday PEGIDA goes out in Frankfurt and demonstrates. Therefore, every
Monday anti-PEGIDA – consisting of an array of people – demonstrates in order to disrupt
PEGIDA’s demonstration.
When I walked up from the underground train station in Frankfurt I was quite surprised
with the number of people. There were probably slightly less than 1,000 people who were
opposing PEGIDA, while there were only 30-50 PEGIDA members demonstrating (reports say
that the first Anti-PEGIDA demo attracted 16,000 people). I immediately saw ANTIFA and
black and red flags flying in the middle of the crowed, I was very pleased to see this.
Police fatigued in full riot gear – helmets, shields, clubs, mace, pistols, everything
separates each group demonstrating. I look at it as the police protecting Nazis;
therefore, the police are no better than the Nazis themselves. Realistically they are
allowing fascism to be promoted.
This first demonstration was interesting for me to see. Much different from any protest
or demonstration I have attended in the United States. I was fascinated. It was like a
large party near Zeil strasse (a big shopping area). People were smashing beers, there
were people walking around with shots or handing out hot drinks, and there was loud music
bumping. It was welcoming and everyone was having a good time, it seemed. Most
importantly, the reason why everyone was gathered did not get lost. Music was used
instrumentally, as well as the booze that probably makes those who indulge a bit more
rowdy. The music was turned louder and louder every time the Nazis got on a microphone and
tried to portray their message. You were unable to hear what they were trying to say
because the music muffled their words so much; therefore, effectively disrupting their
message from being spread. Anti-PEGIDA demonstrators also had their microphone that was
connected to loud speakers. They would also respond with their own messages speaking
loudly over the Nazis when they tried to speak. This would lead to demonstrators beginning
to chant “Nazi’s raus!” which means “Nazis out!” as they held up their middle fingers. It
was great to see people of all ages were participating in these actions. However, when
speaking of demographics, I was surprised to not see many Muslims protesting. I would
argue that majority of the demonstrators were white, 20-30 years of age, and German. There
were of course Muslims in attendance; I simply figured there would have been more.
I noticed several people that were dressed in all black and had sunglasses and a bandana
or something that was covering their face. The closer I paid attention I noticed that
these individuals were throwing eggs at police and the PEGIDA demonstrators. I saw a
couple bottles here and there hurled over the first line of police also. Throughout all of
this, the police didn’t even really attempt to disrupt this or have it come to a halt. I
did hear the police announce something on a loud speaker of some sort though. I asked my
friend who speaks a bit of German what they said; he responded that they said
demonstrators should stop throwing objects. From this demonstration, that I considered
peaceful, I was also pleased to see that Anti-PEGIDA demonstrators seemed to have a fair
level of discontent with the police as well as with PEGIDA. The dissent towards the police
was significant.
I noticed many interesting new tactics that I had not come across at other protests.
Another that I did not discuss above, which I found to be useful, was how demonstrators
used their banners. I noticed how they implemented the use of these banners when I saw
some young protestors, probably 15-18 years of age, holding a banner that said “Stop
Police Violence – Solidarity with Ferguson”. They strategically held the banner right in
front of the police who were observing the demonstrators from behind. This had two
purposes: it sent a message to the police while successfully impeding their view in order
for their comrades to successfully demonstrate in whatever way they wanted. Whether it is
peacefully or “violently” (throwing objects at police and Nazis). This to me showed
solidarity between demonstrators. Some may be for peaceful protest and some may be for a
more militant approach. But either way they are for the same cause, and the peaceful
protestors, rather then condemning militant protestors, aided in their actions. As an
anarchist, I think that diversity of tactics is of significant importance in successfully
creating a mass movement, and in the long run, a successful revolution led by the people.
At that point, that was one the first times I noticed what I would consider true
solidarity amongst activists. This allowed for the diversity of tactics to take place.
Obviously on a micro level, but tactics were diverse, nonetheless.
As the Nazis left, the demonstrators dispersed. However, a group of maybe 50 people began
to march yelling a chant that had ANTIFA amongst some other lyrics while holding a banner
that read, “PEGIDA will not work! For unlimited solidarity against racism!”

I was eager to attend another demonstration. The following week I unfortunately couldn’t
make it. But two weeks from the first one I attended, I went back. Everything this week
was the same as the last. The only difference that I really noticed was that the PEGIDA
demonstrators group had slightly grown while the ANTIFA side had slightly dwindled.
This time around, I had nothing to do after and decided to hang around for a bit longer
afterwards. At the end of the demonstration PEGIDA swiftly move to the underground train
with police protection. ANTIFA is on the other side and can access the same underground
train from another entrance. As people see PEGIDA leaving, Anti-PEGIDA quickly attempted
to get to where they are going before the police block it off. I meandered my way over to
the train station, due to it being where I needed to go and because that’s where everyone
seemed to be gathering. I noticed tension rising. People were yelling at the police. The
bit of German that I can understand helped me understand that they were calling the police
fascist pigs and other things along the lines of that. I ended up, unintentionally but
happily, right where the most agitated demonstrators were. They were nose to nose with the
police, aggressively yelling at them. It seemed as though there might have been some
scuffles breaking out between police and ANTIFA.
I noticed a gate closing between police and protestors and then I saw the crowd kind of
getting pushed back. A couple people came out of the crowd, holding their faces. I thought
they tear gassed the area so I backed up a bit. This is when I think things got quite a
bit more hectic.

Anti-PEGIDA Vid
We were standing right where everyone just got maced, which was below street level but one
stair case flight above where the police were blocking us from going. There was a
significant number of police and they seemed to move in large groups. They were
everywhere. So they were still on the street level above us as well. There was quite a bit
of commotion at this point. From body language people seemed to be yelling at a few police
that ended up by themselves, questioning why they were maced. I was happy to see police
surrounded and not comfortable, just how they make me feel every time I encounter them.
Not long after the first people got maced, maybe 30 seconds to 1 minute, I heard all of
our comrades above us yelling “Achtung! Achtung!” which its literal translation is Warning
– essentially telling us watch out. Luckily this language is used on the soccer pitch as
well, so I knew what it meant. I immediately turned around and saw a number of police
officers quickly coming down the stairs from behind all of the protestors – with their
helmets on, masks down, shields up and batons out. They were ready and meant business. Me,
being from the United States, quickly said to myself that I should get out of there
quickly. So I got my friends attention and told him we should back up a bit. We quickly
scurried up half of the stairs to maintain a bit of distance and observe. I then realized
that the demonstrators had power, and were able to fight back and show the state that they
meant business just as much as the police did. The protestors did not wavier and had no
fear of the police, it seemed that the police had more fear of the people then the other
way around. As I have always said, “there are more of us then there are them, we should
use this to our advantage”, these demonstrators indeed used their numbers to their advantage.
I noticed that the people had power when I saw police in fear of their life rather than
the people fearing them. A man who was maced began to argue with the police and a crowed
was soon attracted to this altercation. There were at least ten activists surrounding the
police and they were yelling at them in an aggressive manner. Keep in mind that no
violence took place until the two police began swinging their batons aimlessly at the
individuals surrounding them. Even when this happened only one person kicked towards the
police. Due to my lack of German, I couldn’t understand what they were yelling, but it
seemed as though one was yelling for them to hit him again. More activist became drawn to
this and they began encroaching on the police, breaking barriers that us Americans could
never break with our law enforcement in the States. The police never drew their lethal
weapons, in fact, they started moving backwards, and they eventually started running from
the crowed that chased them out of the area we were occupying.
I have seen pictures and film of demonstrators squaring off with the police, however, I
have never seen it in action. I simply cannot fathom how 5 police officers in L.A. cannot
apprehend one man harmlessly, to the point where they rob someone of their life. While
these police are in a situation where they are possibly in danger and they simply retreat.
Either they are under direct orders to not ever use their firearm unless one is pointed at
them, or life is more valued here. Either way, there is a resounding difference in the
number of lives that have been taken at the hands of the police in Germany versus the
United States. According to globalresearch.ca, United States cops kill at 100 times the
rate of other western capitalist countries. In 2011 there was a reported 404 homicides
committed by the United States police – however, as many know, these are only the number
of reported murders – therefore, this number is likely manipulated for the interest of the
elite in order to refrain from the legitimacy crises at hand. According to KilledByPolice
there was likely over 1,000 lives that cease to exist due to those who supposedly protect
and serve us. In the same year, there were a grand total of six individuals killed by the
police in Germany. This is in a country where one is unable to neglect that it also has
white supremacist undertones and large amounts of oppressed minorities. Although Germany
is much smaller than cop killer amerikkka, according to studies conducted by
globalresearch.ca, the United States police were 40 times more likely to kill than German
police in 2011.
So what is it with U.S. police and their fetish with murdering and ripping away lives from
loved ones too soon? The United States has created this image, and fooled everyone that
resides within its borders, that it is the freest country in the world. But are we free
when protesting is considered petty terrorism to our government? When we are savages when
black rage is expressed in any manner? Are we free when the state is legally lynching us?
Of course not, and due to global capitalism, realistically no one is “free”. However, the
United States seems to have mastered its state repression, to the point that the
individuals vehemently argue that their nation is the best even though it incarcerates and
kills more of its civilians than any other developed core country. As citizens of the U.S.
our state doesn’t simply repress us. The state has ideologically raped its citizens since
birth so that if there is any form of dissent we are also repressed by mainstream society.
What I gathered from demonstrating here, and witnessing police in action, is that
repressive state apparatuses in Germany do not rule with such vicious violence as
promptly. The German state’s monopoly over the “legitimate” use of violence still exists;
however, it doesn’t as frequently include lethal force unlike in the United States.
Ideally, worldwide the statement that ‘Arbeiter Zeitung’ made on the 11th of March in 1885
is still relevant today: “The community will soon have to decide whether to be or not to
be; either the police must be and the community can not be, or the community must be and
the police cannot be; one only of the two is possible.”
Agitate. Educate. Organize. Working class solidarity world wide, all power to the people!
