If you want to, print out this poster and spread it.

For the first time in the history of Brno, this demonstration of power and hate will be blocked not (well: not only) by left-wing activists, but by “common people”: students, teachers, entepreneurs, waiters, actors, etc. This kind of activism is common for example in Germany.

If you want to join the crowd of several hundred people who don’t feel comfortable seeing neo-nazis marching the streets, check out the official web page of “Brno blokuje” (Brno impedes) initiative, translated to English, German and Polish.

As the website states, this is not an easy task to do. You may be harrased by police, beaten up by drunk skinheads and no one is going to give you a nice prize in the end. However, after several days of thinking and discussing with various people, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is important to show up and send a message: we, common folks, stand against racism.

After a great success of the last traditional feast in Kamená kolonie, its inhabitants want to organize a May Day parade. Source: Duckbar.cz

Quarter Kamenná kolonie, the most poetic place of Brno (see a detailed guide with a map), hosts a quite interesting event on Saturday, May 1. You will be able to:

• Buy some jewelry and other stuff from do-it-yourself fashion labels and gadgeteers.
• Enjoy an art exhibition in Sixty Stone Space gallery.
• Taste some original Spanish paella.
• Have fun in the narrow streets.
• And, of course, drink as much cold beers and eat as much warm sausages as you can handle.

I think this is a perfect way of spending the Labour Day and the National Love Day!

The town’s centre was paralysed on May 1 due to a demonstration and a march of the ultranationalist Workers’ Party. However, the meeting of 500 skinheads, nationalists and – let’s face it – fascists was free of riots and street fights (contrary to the May Day of 2007).

There were 1,500 policemen preventing the supporters of Workers’ Party to clash with anti-fascists and Romani people. The police closed the main square, where the meeting took place, for everyone except the fascist. The chairman of the Workers’ Party Tomáš Vandas claimed this had been ordered only to prevent WP from addressing the public.

Three skinheads were arrested for displaying Nazi signs.

Source: Brno.iDnes.cz

Most interesting goals of Workers’ Party

• Withdrawal from the European Union and NATO (…and you thought that an international isolation was a punishment!)
• Ban of pornography and interruptions
• Oppression homosexuals and ethnical minorities
• Ban of the major political parties and trials of current political leaders
• Capital punishment for masturbation (...only joking, of course. But these guys want capital punishment back anyway.)

Source: Czech Wikipedia

Read also: Fascists and communists to march on May Day

UPDATED ON MAY 1: read No riots during fascist rally. Unsettling May Day anyway.

Clashes are anticipated to take place on May 1st, after both Workers’ Party and Communist Party supporters anounced they will march through the town.

Workers’ Party launched 2003 and fights against the globally connected economy, homosexuality, drugs, NATO, EU and ethnical minorities. They got 1 % of popular vote in the last year’s elections. Czech communist party launched 80 years ago, killed hundreds of innocent people in 1950s and transformed a formerly-modern state into a poor Soviet satellite. However, they have not been banned after the Velvet revolution and got 15 % of popular vote in the last year’s elections.

Source: Brněnský deník.