Don’t play along with witch hunts and stigmatisation, whether the target is the left, the right or football supporters.
This weekend, a group of Bayern München supporters made a pointed statement with a banner at the Allianz Arena. Their message was not aimed at any one politician, but at a broader danger: the banning or criminalisation of antifascist movements. The fact that a majority in the Dutch parliament voted in favour of exactly that has raised eyebrows abroad. Partly because it appeared to follow Trump’s playbook, which is aimed at silencing any form of opposition.
When criticism and dissent are labelled “extremist”, attention shifts away from the real threat: the normalisation of hatred, racism and extreme violence.
That is why JfP keeps making the same point: a democratic constitutional state must have room for (non-violent) protest and dissent. Declaring those voices the enemy is dangerous and short-sighted.
Thank you for your support.
