Press Release No. 33/2015 IG Metall Calls on the Federal Government to Do More to Combat Right-Wing Extremism

Frankfurt am Main – On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation from National Socialism, IG Metall has called on the federal government to step up its efforts to combat right-wing extremism, racism, and anti-Semitism. In a statement issued by the union’s executive board on May 8, 2015, IG Metall also encourages all citizens to stand up confidently against racism and discrimination and to advocate for a cosmopolitan and tolerant country in schools, at work, and in all areas of life.

May 8 is not only a day of liberation, but also a day of remembrance and a reminder, the IG Metall Executive Board emphasizes in its statement. The memory of Nazi terror gives rise to a special responsibility to stand up for the inalienable dignity of every human being, everywhere and at all times.

Unfortunately, the struggle against right-wing extremism is alarmingly relevant today. The murders committed by the right-wing extremist “NSU” demonstrate this all too clearly. A sustainable fight against right-wing extremism can only be ensured through resolute policies and a strong democratic civil society that “signals that there is no place for right-wing extremism and neo-fascism, neither on our streets nor in our parliaments,” according to the IG Metall statement.

Regarding the Executive Board’s statement