Fascist death threats against Monika Gärtner-Engel and others

From the Central Committee of the MLPD

Dear residents, on the 30th of September a call was issued in the Internet to murder Monika Gärtner-Engel. She is the Responsible Person for Internationalism on the Central Committee of the MLPD and Main Coordinator of the revolutionary world organization ICOR. In Gelsenkirchen she is a well-known, popular representative of the MLPD, a member of the City Council and a local politician of AUF. Via Twitter Monika Gärtner-Engel was viciously slandered, a distorted, manipulated photo of her was spread, and a call was issued to hunt and kill her: “Find her = Kill her!” it says in English.

Threat through the entryphone

In the night of 2 to 3 October residents of a house on Hauptstrasse in Gelsenkirchen were threatened through the entryphone: “I am your killer! I am coming for you tonight!” The “International Meeting Place”, known for its exemplary solidarity with refugees, the local office of the MLPD and the progressive book and crafts store and travel agency “People to People” are located in the house. During the night of 4 October a hate sticker of the neofascist NPD was pasted to the office of the MLPD.

“Of course, you can’t let yourself be intimidated by something like that.”

Gabi Fechtner, Chairwoman of the MLPD

In both cases charges were filed against persons unknown. Gabi Fechtner, Chairwoman of the MLPD, stated: “Of course, you can’t let yourself be intimidated by something like that. After all, 87 percent of the voters explicitly elected parties which are left of the protofascist AfD, and the progressive change of mood is appreciably stronger than the trend to the right.

But one must not take this trend to the right and such fascist death threats lightly. Their purpose is to intimidate. However, in the past they also have paved the way for brutal attacks including even the murder of antifascists, communists or migrants. It has not escaped the fascists’ attention that the MLPD and the Internationalist Alliance are gaining social importance, and so they step up their attacks. Apparently, fascist forces think they are getting the upper hand due to the upgrading of the AfD, and so they crawl out of their holes...

Fascists encouraged by “left-wing extremism” campaign

The fascists are encouraged and incited by the ‘left-wing extremism’ campaign of those in power. From the AfD we increasingly hear fascist sentiments, but the fascist followers of Erdogan or the fascist IS also are active in Germany.”

Don’t budge an inch for the fascists

Gabi Fechtner calls upon “all democratic people to resolutely oppose such fascist activities and to increase their vigilance. We demand the prosecution and punishment of those responsible and the banning of all fascist organizations and their propaganda. Resist the beginnings! Don’t budge an inch for the fascists!”

All antifascists, democrats, friends and local residents are called upon and requested to unite against such fascist activities, to provide relevant information and to organize the protest, for example at the Monday Demonstration on 9 October 2017, 5.30 p.m., Preuteplatz square. Thank you!

Solidarity is growing

Immediately after the death threats were made public, the first declarations of solidarity were received. The editors of Rote Fahne express their unequivocal solidarity and sharply condemn the fascist threats.