Saturday, Jan 31, 12.30 pm, Katharinentreppen (near main station), Dortmund-City!

We express our solidarity with the residents of the “Brügmanhallen” and join their demands. We appreciate the fact, that the municipality of Dortmund entered a dialogue with the refugees. It should, however, be a matter of course that they engage in a dialogue with the people concerned – instead of merely talking about them. It should as well be clear, that emergency accommodations as the “Brügmannhallen” (which are actually sports halls) can only be short-term “solutions”. Initially planned as a short-term interim solution, the “Brügmannhallen” still remain open for the third month now. The refugees living there have to fight for proper living conditions. Only their protest last week helped to bring their matters of importance to the stage. The municipality reacted promptly to the refugees’ letter of protest and recognized the problems the residents of the “Brügmanhallen” face. The city council has assured, that they take a very serious view of the situation and will work on changes. Generally, the accommodation of refugees in camps is not acceptable, only rented apartments offer adequate solutions. The struggle for refugee rights tackles more than just the housing issue: It is about right to stay for all!

In citizen dialogues with residents of the neighbourhoods surrounding the new refugee camps, the municipality tries to inform about the current situation. The atmosphere we experienced there is alarming and gives all the reasons to worry. Open hatred against refugees is shown, people offering their support for refugees are being daunted. This is not an exception. Racist mobilisations against refugees have grown in the past months. People do not only show their diffuse fear and prejudice by taking part in political demonstrations like the PEGIDA marches. Refugees are openly attacked, both verbally and physically, in many places they face criminalisation and refusal.

We don’t want to live in such a society, where people are being discriminated against, persecuted, threatened and excluded. We fight for a society based on solidarity, where people take care of each other and stand up for each other. The events of the last days have shown us, that self-organisation of refugees is effective! In Dortmund, refugees openly declared their protest. Not only here, but in other cities throughout Germany, refugees and their supporters are taking to the streets on the 31st of January. Together we want to bring forward this protest!

Join our demonstration on Saturday, 31st of January!

Humane living conditions now! Right to stay for all! For a self-determined life and the freedom of Movement! Against all racism!