In May 2010 a Lithuanian court legalized public displays of swastikas, with nearly no reaction from foreign embassies or human rights groups. Reports here and here. Jewish community’s reaction here. See also the page on Antisemitism. On the term swasticals, see our report for 8 May 2010.
REPRESENTATIVE SELECTION
11 March 2008
Gedimino Boulevard, Vilnius. This is the ‘Lithuanian swastika’ with the added lines meant to evoke the ‘Columns of Gediminas‘. Details and video of the parade here.
16 February 2010
Klaipeda. Independence Day demonstration using posters featuring prewar ‘classic’ swastikas. Details here.
11 March 2010
near Cathedral Square, central Vilnius. One of the various ‘swastika fill-in’ fascist symbols. Details here.
26 March 2010
at the Norwegian Embassy, Vilnius, protesting the Norwegian ambassador’s stand for human rights. Details here.
8 May 2010
at the Hotel Reval Lietuva, Vilnius. Details here.
On this occasion, the neo-Nazis handed out copies of a newspaper containing the following diagram to assure the faithful that the symbol on the flags does indeed count as a proper swastika. Details here.
19 May 2010
Klaipeda, posters that had led to arrests and the court’s decision permitting public displays of swastikas. Details here.
A court in Klaipeda approved the public display of swastikas on the grounds that they are ‘Lithuania’s historical heritage rather than symbols of Nazi Germany’. BNS report. Delfi report. Alfa.lt report following the protest of Dr Efraim Zuroff, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Israel office. JTA report on the court’s decision and Dr Zuroff’s response. More details here. Photo by J. Markevicius on Delfi.
27 May 2010
on the major internet portal Balsas.lt, with this image. English translation.
10 September 2010
The ‘Gay Pride Swastika’ that appeared with this article on the website of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party.
October 2010
Classic and avant garde Swastika buttons purchased at a posh shop off Gedimino Boulevard in Vilnius:
11 March 2011
The ‘Lithuanian swastika’ makes a massive appearance at the neo-Nazi parade on the capital’s main boulevard, with a permit from city authorities, and with participation of a member of parliament and a ‘chief specialist’ at the Genocide Research Center. Reports here and here.
11 March 2013
At the neo-Nazi march procession that started on Cathedral Square before heading up on Gedimino, the main boulevard of the center of Vilnius.
