Support Cyklopen Youth Cultural Center!
November 29, the Cyklopen Youth Cultural Center in southern Stockholm was completely destroyed by arson. At the time that the fire broke out, Network Against Racism was to have had a function in the building. Fortunately, the activity had been cancelled shortly before. In all likelihood, neo-nazi groups are responsible for the attack, which is the theory that the police are pursuing.
The fire occurred the evening before the neo-nazis’ annual November 30 demonstration, and one week before their annual demonstration in the Stockholm suburb of Salem. Network Against Racism, which had rented the facilities in Cyklopen for the evening in question, has been active in the opposition to the neo-nazis’ demonstrations. Two days after the fire at Cyklopen, the apartment of a Stockholm family that has been active in anti-racism work was the target of an arson attack, an act that was nearly fatal.
The Cyklopen building was designed and built by the Culture Campaign association and financed by donations and a few grants. The building was largely finished when it was dedicated in September of 2007. The building was used by about 1000 people a month during the spring and summer of 2008.
The destruction of Cyklopen is a great loss for culture in Stockholm. Stockholm politicians must act to see that the Culture Campaign now receives necessary economic support and a new, permanent building permit for a location where a new, safer building can be erected.
Groups with sinister purposes cannot be allowed to succeed in sabotaging a popular culture project! We call upon everybody to unite against rasism and neo-nazist groups.
Jens Holm, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, Sweden
Eva-Britt Svensson, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, Sweden
Kartika Liotard, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, The Netherlands
Sören Söndergaard, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, Denmark
Willy Meyer, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, Spain
Esko Seppänen, Member of the European Parliament, GUE/NGL, Finland
Thomas Raeck, vice-General secretary GUE/NGL, Germany
Roberto Galtieri, GUE/NGL, PdCI, Italy
It is also possible to support Cyklopen economically via:
IBAN: SE 0995000099603416075525
BIC/SWIFT: NDEASESS