The traditional Easter marches of the so-called peace movement take place throughout Germany. The group “Vitsche” a Ukrainian young civil movement in Berlin, held their own demonstration in response to the cynical pseudo-pacifism of the Easter marches.
“The traditional Easter march does not condemn the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine”, as Krista-Marija Läbe, Vitsche spokeswoman, said
The Berlin pacifists gathered under the slogans “No weapons for Ukraine!” and demanded the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
Ukrainian activists consider such rhetoric shameful, so they held a protest in the center of the German capital. At the rally, the speakers of the public organization “Viche” emphasized that the struggle for peace is now being waged on the battlefield.
The demonstrators chanted: “No freedom – no peace!”. The desire for peace is right and understandable, and no one wants peace more eagerly than Ukrainians ourselves.
A performance was also held during the demonstration. To John Lennon’s song Imagine, people in dove masks drank champagne and ate lobster while “thinking” about peace.
A turning point for the Peace Movement
Andreas Zick, the head of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence at Bielefeld University, believes that the peace movement is at a critical turning point. In the past, Easter marches were typically dominated by left-wing and green groups, but the current political climate has brought about a new challenge. “Right-wing groups are now participating in the Corona protests and are appropriating traditions that were once associated with the peace movement,” Zick explains.
According to the researcher, the infiltration of the peace movement is becoming increasingly problematic. In particular, the rise of right-wing populism and a pro-Russian stance has opened up the movement to potential manipulation and exploitation.
Russia, in particular, has a history of attempting to infiltrate the peace movement through information warfare and propaganda campaigns.
“The occupation of the topic by right-wing populist and extremist groups is a particular challenge,” Zick warns. The danger of infiltration and undue influence is particularly high in these times. For organizers of Easter marches, the rise of right-wing appropriation is a significant concern that cannot be ignored.
