Raison d’être

We abhor the growing toxicity of politicians, EU policymakers and a large segment of the media, including social media, in Europe, the US and parts of the Global South.

The rise of far right ideologies has immense negative repercussions on our politics, economics, societies and on our personal lives. Many of us are working individually or in groups to combat the rise of these ideologies of hate and division. 

We share and promote values of inclusion, pluralism and a commitment to anti-racism, decolonizing, human dignity and broad-based solidarity.  We believe there is strength in numbers and we invite all those who share these values to join us in upholding them.

There are real world consequences of extreme right-wing rhetoric and its singling out of identifiable groups of ‘others’ be it people of colour, women, migrants, trans people or any other group. People are being murdered on European streets because of a social and political climate of growing acceptance and tolerance of right-wing extremism and the racism and dehumanizing of others that forms an integral part of the extreme-right agenda.  

Far-right rhetoric and policies amplify existing structural racism, including Islamophobia & anti-Semitism, hate speech and physical violence against racialised Europeans and women. 

Fascism targets first communities that stand out. Muslim communities, racialised Europeans, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, Jewish citizens, we are all potential future targets of a fascist regime. No one is safe unless everyone is safe.  

We readily acknowledge that among us we do not agree on everything, and we happily set aside our differences to work together to fight fascism in Europe, to build a society that resists the unifying trend of authoritarian leaders, a society that acknowledges difference and plurality (of opinion and of lifestyle) and to build a community that maintains a shared commitment to using the democratic process to resolve indeed to flourish with our differences.

” First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me.”

Martin Niemoeller