Neo-Nazis plan march "Against Racial Violence" through Přerov, Czech Republic

Sympathizers of the extreme right will be rallying once again in Přerov on the last Saturday in June. Jiří Štěpánek, Vice-Chair of the Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS), told the Czech Press Agency the rally is because of allegedly frequent racial attacks being committed by the local Roma minority. Representatives of the Přerov town hall have not yet received an announcement of the event but say they will probably not try to prevent it.

“We haven’t received anything yet. There is the obligation to announce it, we will evaluate everything and make a statement. We probably will not find anything in the announcement that we could use to ban the gathering,” said Bohuslav Přidal, spokesperson for the Přerov town hall, adding that if the event does occur, the town will prepare to collaborate with police around it. Irena Urbánková, spokesperson for the Přerov police, said she did not yet have any information about a planned march.

Right-wing radicals want to march through the streets of Přerov from náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square). “Přerov is an infamous locality where racial attacks frequently occur, particularly by the Gypsy minority. The most recent case in the media was the brutal beating of a young man who ended up in a state of unconsciousness. That’s why the name of the action is ‘Against Racial Violence'”, said DSSS Vice-Chair Štěpánek.

A demonstration by right-wing extremists two years ago in Přerov turned into a street battle between police and the right-wing radicals. Nonprofit organizations helping local Roma people living in excluded localities will prepare for the right-wing radical march. “We will definitely communicate with the police, the town hall, and residents of the localities so there won’t be any bloodshed, violence or scrapes and so there won’t be any large-scale property damage,” said Richard Kořínek of the People in Need organization, adding that Roma people also want to express their opinion in such situations. “We must mainly inform everyone that the police will be taking measures. We primarily want to prevent panic,” Kořínek said.

There has been talk for some time of a possible right-wing extremist visit to Přerov. The case of a 17-year-old male attacked in mid-March by two perpetrators whom witnesses identified as Roma has provoked considerable emotion. The boy was in a coma for some time and right-wing radicals are exploiting his case for their propaganda. According to police spokesperson Urbánková, the investigation is ongoing. Police have charged two men, aged 25 and 31, with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and rioting. They face up to 10 years in prison.

Experts say the Roma community in Přerov is comparatively large compared to other towns. Roma people allegedly comprise 10 % of the population, which is just short of 50 000 residents.

Two years ago in April, 700 people participated in a demonstration by right-wing extremists in Přerov that ended in their battling police. The conflicts broke out shortly after those convening the event declared it over. As many as 700 police officers intervened on the streets and 31 people were arrested. Some demonstrators, both anti-fascists and right-wing extremists, suffered injuries during the intervention, including a 21-year-old man who evidently lost a finger to a firecracker. Six police officers and three patrolmen also had to be treated for injuries. The event, entitled “March against Racism”, was announced by the then-chair of the Olomouc cell of the Workers’ Party (Dělnická strana – DS), Jiří Švehlík. However, he said the DS later distanced itself from the action, which was organized by the Autonomous Nationalists and neo-Nazis from National Resistance.

The DSSS is the successor to the Workers’ Party, which was dissolved last year by the Czech Supreme Administrative Court. Its ideology, program, and symbols included chauvinistic and xenophobic elements and a racist subtext, linking the party to national socialism, the ideology espoused by Adolf Hiter.