Neo-nazism on the rise in Lithuania
Yesterday an acquaintance of mine was attacked in Vilnius by two skinheads who recognised him as a participant in an anti-fa demonstration. This is a scary message, because it's not only something that is horrifying personally, but also a proof that the local neo-nazis keep track of who is going where. This guy attacked is not a public personality whose face would be known to everyone. Apparently, the nazis collect visual material and know the faces of people who participate in at least one demo which they don't like.
Some years ago neo-nazis attacked an Italian student, mistaking him for a Muslim. I have heard from my friends that skinheads have been assaulting participants of other subcultures in various towns in Lithuania. Also, I have heard personally from two Japanese people who were attacked on the street by skinheads just out of the blue.
I really, really, really don't want to return there...
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Daiva
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I can't really say there is a rise in any nazi activity, at least for the past few years. There was a surge after independence, but that's because of the repression of earlier times.
I believe, and say this from my heart: Lithuanians are equal opportunity haters. They only hate two kinds of people - lithuanians, and everyone else. Lithuania is a place where people are proud of their intolerance, and it's actually part of the grain of the culture.
That said, I have known two japanese guys in their 20s who lived in Vilnius for a few years each, and the worst thing ever inflicted on them by the locals were some wicked hangovers.
Also, I know that the police are pretty quick to respond to violence in the center. They do watch the place pretty close by camera, and they see everyone.
I'm sorry about your friend. Unfortunately, I think neo-nazism is on the rise everywhere right now. The scariest part about living in the US since Sept. 11th is the hate I encounter in respectable adults when speaking of Muslims. They don't bat an eye. Granted, they probably won't beat someone up, but they will elect representatives that will put our money in wars that will destroy Muslim countries. It makes me sick. And very sad.
Yeah that Obama is a real Muslim killer. I haven't encountered any Nazis and the ones I've heard of have been here (and laughed at) for a really long time. Xenophobia and propaganda run amok on the net, mostly fulled by people like alina.