Vilnius, Tuesday March 11th 2014:

Neo-Nazis Announce March Through Old Town and City Center to Nation’s Parliament

Efraim Zuroff Will Lead Silent, Peaceful Remembrance as Protest

Colleagues of all backgrounds are invited to meet Dr. Zuroff, Holocaust historian, Nazi-hunter, author, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Israel office. He will lead a silent, peaceful remembrance of the annihilated Jewish citizens of Vilnius and Lithuania, in protest against the neo-Nazi marchers and the continued granting of city center venues on independence day. Meeting on Tuesday, 11 March 2014, 3 PM at Old Town Hall (Rotušė) Square. First meeting at edge of square, on the corner of Stiklių and Didžioji outside Amatininkai Café, monitoring the march (itself scheduled for 4 PM) to its conclusion on Gedimino near the Seimas (parliament).

EU fashion accessories? Embroidered swastika and white power scarf from the 2013 Vilnius march. PHOTO: ANNA SHEPHERD / DEFENDING HISTORY

INTERNATIONAL PETITION NEARING THE 3000 MARK

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SPOKE OUT

MEDIA REPORTING THAT AUTHORITIES JUST SAID “SURE”

EYEWITNESS REPORTS ON PREVIOUS MARCHES

JUST IN: Feminist reportedly stabbed in central Vilnius in run-up to march; See Lina Žigelytė on the neo-Nazis and women’s rights

Still, Last Minute Hopes…

that in 2014, President, PM, Mayor, human rights and pro-tolerance groups will just say “No” to gifting of capital’s heart on independence day. Previous years featured swastikas, sieg heils, adulation of perpetrators, slurs against Blacks, Feminists, Gays, Jews, Poles, Roma, Russians.

The march’s organizer is Ričardas Čekutis, who denies the Holocaust, and was for years the “chief PR specialist” at the Genocide Research Center. His pronouncements on gays, Jews, Poles, Roma (samples). Three progressive members of parliament spoke out in 2012. MP Vytenis Andriukaitis (now health minister) replied boldly to neo-Nazis’ threats against parliamentarians who stand up.

Čekutis’s call to marchers include reference to previous years, from 2008. More: 15min.lt reports on municipality’s reactions (2nd report); In Lzinios.lt. On Facebook.

Another ubiquitous March 11th presence is the Economy Ministry’s “Zeppelinus” whose racist blogs continue to taint his ministry

PETITIONS: Monica Lowenberg, Krystyna Anna Steiger, Olga Zabludoff