Bad Idea

I know, I know, bad, bad, bad. But seriously, this is bad.

Today and tomorrow mark the 69th anniversary of the Kristallnacht which was a precursor of the horror the Jews of Europe would face over the next 7 years.

To "celebrate" this anniversary, the Czech Young National Democrats plan to march through Prague's Jewish Quarter (Josefov) tomorrow. They will be accompanied by their colleagues from Slovakia and Germany.

Now, this march has been official banned, but they are going to march anyway. The pretext for the ban is simply that the Young National Democrats announced the march internationally before they got the permit. The permit originally was granted until the city could find a technicality to ban the march.

When I first moved to Prague, the Nazis used to march at least once per year. The Communists and Anarchists would organize counter-demonstrations and there would be fireworks (not the kind you light with a match, the metaphorical kind). Afterwards, the Anarchists would smash the windows of the local McDonalds and of some public buildings. Few people got hurt and I always found it kind of fun to watch.

But it has been quite a long time since such an event has taken place, and I fear the worst for this one. This will be a real test for the Prague riot crews.

In any case, I just want to point out that contrary to what some people say, Nazis are (ultra) right-wingers. That is why the Communists hate them. So let's just stop trying to connect us civilized people with these animals (i.e. me with Stalin because we "lean the same way"). No one wins that argument.

Update: Luckily there were only minor clashes, and the police prevented the Neo-Nazis from marching through the Jewish quarter. Have a look at the photogallery if you like.