Foreign Men Attacked in Cologne As Dueling Protests Ramp Up in Response to New Year’s Assaults

[pampango]

This weekend, several different groups preaching very different messages converged on Cologne. There were anti-migrant protesters, angry about the government's decision to let in so many refugees after the assaults in the German city on New Year's Eve. Water cannons were used to disperse the crowd of nearly 2,000 people, some of which threw beer bottles or firecrackers at the police. According to the AFP, attendees chanted, "Merkel must go," and at least one banner said, "Rapefugees not welcome." One protester, a right-wing politician, told The Financial Times, "All Muslim immigration must stop . . . We cannot integrate Islamist fascists."

Other protesters gathered to greet the right-wing group with a message opposing xenophobia, another group — mostly women, per Reuters — carried signs that said things like, "No means no. Keep away from our bodies." There were more than 1,000 counter-protesters.

The attacks have also proved to be a catalyst for more violence. According to the New York Times, six Pakistani nationals were attacked by about 20 people in Cologne on Sunday. Two were sent to the hospital. In other separate incidents in Cologne, a Syrian man and a group of Africans were also attacked. The Guardian adds that "local newspaper Express reported that the attackers were members of gangs who arranged via Facebook to meet in downtown Cologne to start a 'manhunt' of foreigners."

"As abominable as the crimes in Cologne and other cities were, one thing remains clear," Maas said this weekend. "There is no justification for blanket agitation against foreigners." One Syrian man in Cologne told BuzzFeed, “I’m very worried we will be attacked ... I don’t have any problem with Germans – many have welcomed me here and helped me integrate into the country – but many have problems with me and others, because we are from a different country ... The criminals, they are giving us new problems. They are making it harder for us, making it worse. This makes me more sad."

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/01/germany-to-release-more-info-on-assaults.html

The RW politician quoted in the article seems to be channeling Trump.

[KittyWampus]

1. Hopefully DU'ers pay more attention to how the Far Right operates in Europe now.

There is a lot of idealizing how things are in Europe by American liberals.

In some ways, the Far Right is more empowered and entrenched in Europe. It just isn't as blatantly obvious.

This situation can either lead to some real progress by humanity as a whole or some serious regressiveness.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. The attempted cover-up started this. If the authorities make it known

they are more concerned with preserving political narratives over the safety of the governed they convince the governed that the authorities are not reliable. Blame-shifting to people who want something done about it will only make it worse.

Opposing rape culture that leads to mob sexual assaults in public is not xeno/Islamophobia; it's opposing rape culture that leads to mob sexual assaults.

[pampango]

3. For liberals it is "opposing rape culture that leads to mob sexual assaults" no matter who

is guilty. For RW activists (of which Germany has its share) who have opposed Muslim immigration for a long time, there is a lot of "See we told you Muslims are animals. How could you let THEM in?" (all Muslims are the same) mentality.

Opposing rape culture that leads to mob sexual assaults in public is not xeno/Islamophobia ...

Agreed. Attacks on innocent foreigners because they "look Muslim" (done by RW gangs in this case, it sounds like) is xeno/Islamophobia.

It should not be difficult for liberals to oppose a "rape culture" without stereotyping every member of a group for the actions of a small fraction of the group. This stereotyping is what the right loves to do and sets off the attacks on innocent foreigners (non-whites who 'look Muslim').

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. If fears of the RW caitalizing on this matter is such an urgent concern

then many on the LW would do well to stop screaming, "XENO/ISLMOPHOBIA!" because all that says to on-lookers is that those voices are turning a blind eye over partisan politics with women as a sacrificial offering.

This is a rape culture we're dealing with (or not dealing with, as the partisan hacks would have it). This is not a one-off event; it is an on-going behavior for the culture. There's none of this garment-rending over something-phobia when the culture involves jocks or naval aviators.

[pampango]

9. "This is a rape culture we're dealing with ..." From the perpetrators - yes, I agree.

I just don't want to join the right in stereotyping all Muslims for the actions of a large group of young men.

It would only be appropriate to 'scream XENO/ISLAMOPHOBIA' if someone is attacking people because the "look like Muslims" and "all Muslims are criminals and rapists".

[840high]

10. Thank you. +1

[The2ndWheel]

5. I'm pretty sure it's not just the right

It should not be difficult for liberals to oppose a "rape culture" without stereotyping every member of a group for the actions of a small fraction of the group. This stereotyping is what the right loves to do and sets off the attacks on innocent foreigners (non-whites who 'look Muslim').

Everyone likes to stereotype as long as they agree with the stereotype.

[pampango]

7. If you believe that the left engages in stereotypes of ethnic groups to the same extent as the right

then we disagree fundamentally.

[The2ndWheel]

8. I didn't say that

I said everyone likes to use stereotypes when they agree with the stereotype.

[kiva]

6. A thousand men

throwing firecrackers and assaulting (and in a couple cases, raping) women results in a few men being temporarily held, then released.

In contrast

There were about 1,700 police officers on duty during the protests — far more than were patrolling on New Year's Eve, when hundreds of women were assaulted or robbed by drunk men.

Too bad the police chief wasn't as worried about the safety of women on New Years Eve.