Invitation in English (pdf)

INVITATION FOR A PAN-EUROPEAN MEETING FOR PRACTICAL SOLIDARITY

17th/18th of March 2018 in Cologne

In 2017, one comrade from Barcelona was sentenced to seven and a half years of prison in Aachen. She is now in Cologne prison. During our work of mutual solidarity that extended throughout Europe, we quite often realized that there is a common wish for better getting to know each other and to jointly express our solidarity with those affected by repression. This led to the idea to make use of the weekend around the day of the prisoner, on 18th of March 2018, for collective activities in Cologne.

Herewith we would like to invite you for a day-long discussion with comrades from various radical-left movements in Europe on 17th of March and a rally in front of the prison in Cologne on the 18th. A solidarity concert takes place on the evening of the 17th.

We want to broaden our perspectives across national borders, to oppose Fortress Europe with our radical-left perspective, far away from nationalism and the state. The trial in Aachen showed once more that European countries and their agencies do closely cooperate when prosecution and repression is pursued. On day-to-day social, economic and political levels, we do experience the devastating effects of that pan-European cooperation.

However, this might also lead to solidarity and friendship and the desire for gaining consciousness about the various European realities. We are very much interested in making practical transborder solidarity a matter of fact, by talking and discussing about common and diverging experiences and positions of social struggles, with repression and prison.

FOR THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED A PARTICULAR SET OF QUESTIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO DEBATE WITH EVERYBODY

On actual social struggles

In the different European countries, how is the Left referring to social struggles? Is it part of them? Is it being involved from the margins only? Does it consider itself as part of society or does it reject it as such? With which social utopia does it confront reality?

On repression in social conflicts

In the different European countries, how does the Left react to increasing repression? Does it support the ones affected (itself, alleged terrorists, crimes out of poverty), does it distance itself or is it paralysed by repression?

On the different legislative and prison systems

In the different European countries, in how far is prison a part of social struggles? In how far is imprisonment incorporated into social struggles? How big is the divide between "inside" and "outside"?

UP TO NOW, OUR COURSE FOR THE WEEKEND IS LIKE THIS

We will provide sleeping space from Friday to Sunday for those coming from afar. Please drop us a email to solidarity1803@riseup.net, to let us know in advance, with how many people you plan to come around, and how long you want to stay. There will be vegan food during the whole weekend. All discussions will be held in English but are going to be translated as well.

SATURDAY 17.03. - SSM Mülheim - public day of discussion

09:00h Breakfast

10:00h Panel "Social Struggles" and discussion

13:00h Lunch time

14:00h Panel "Repression of political movements" and discussion

17:00h Break

17:30h Panel "Prison" and discussion

20:30h Farewell

The concerts are starting around 19:30h at Limes in Mülheim.

SUNDAY 18.03. - public rally in front of Ossendorf prison

10:00h Breakfast at SSM in Mülheim

13:00h Rally at JVA in Ossendorf

HOW TO ARRIVE AND ADDRESSES

SSM Mülheim, Am Faulbach - Mülheim

Map: https://osm.org/go/0GDqiB_zt

Limes, Mülheimer Freiheit 150 - Mülheim

Map: https://osm.org/go/0GC~2M4

JVA Köln, Rochusstr. 350 - Ossendorf

Tram Line 5 till station Rektor-Klein-Straße

Map: https://osm.org/go/0GC91N54Z-

WE GOT POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE DISCUSSIONS BY THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND GROUPS

Basque country

- Rafael, activist from Bilbao, is being involved in social centre Izar Beltz and is member of different prisoners support groups

- Antonio, lawyer from Zailla, advocates political activists in Basque country

- Pello, ex-prisoner and political activist

Bulgaria

- Activists from BPRA (Bulgarian Prisoners' Association) - Had to cancel their partticipation

- http://bpra.info/en/home

Catalonia

- Carmen, activist from Barcelona, member of Asamblea Solidaridad Rebelde

- Maria, ex-prisoner and political activist

Germany

- Klaus, activist in the autonomous movement

- Michaela, activist from EA-structures (legal support for activists)

- Peter ex-prisoner and political activist

Greece

- Giorgos and Marina, activists from Athens, members of Tameio - financial support for prisoners

- https://tameio.net

- Konstantinos Savvopoulos, from Antiauthoritarian Movement (AK) Thessaloniki, active in a social centre, organizing antinational propaganda/international solidarity

- https://www.antiauthoritarian.gr

Italy

- Activists from Casa Antirepresiv

Spain

- José, activist from Albacete, former member of CNT

- Juan, ex-prisoner and political activist

WE HOPE WE'LL BE SEEING YOU IN MARCH.

In the long run, we imagine a yearly repetition of that weekend, rambling through Europe.