The "Wiener Kongress" ("Congress of Vienna") will take place from the 10th to the 18th of May 2005. The appeal alludes to a rearrangement of Europe, which is geared to the interests and needs of the people. One of the subject areas at this congress will be dealing with the asylum and migration policy of the European Union. A couple of people have formed a working group which is looking into the subjects illegalisation, criminalisation and state-racism. The european policy of detention/deportation camps, the changes in the asylum law and "alien" law (Fremdenrecht, law relating to aliens), the range of the nation states and plans of harmonisation within the EU, and the racist "drugpolicy" made to criminalise people (case study Vienna and the so called "Operation Spring") will be the main focus. Besides events regarding to this content, discussions and movie screenings, actions should contribute to broach this issues in public. But these topics are not exclusive and should be expanded and created by anyone interested. Feel invited to bring in workshops, discussions or else in this congress.


We are aware that there are different situations of outsets. Especially when we deal with issues as migration and different forms of oppression there are various conditions, possibilities, interests, needs, privileges and so on. Special laws are legislated to put people into different categories with different rights and duties. There is a vast number of mechanisms of racist selection of aliens, which we all refuse. But in spite of this refusal racism, sexism and other forms of oppression show in our thoughts and actions as well, which relates to the the fact, that we are part of this society/s. We write this appeal as part of the privileged people, who would appreciate the participation in this discussion of those excluded. At the same time we want to provide an opportunity for subalterns (oppressed people) presenting their problems, ideas and considerations to a bigger audience. The participants/activists define the content. There is the possibility and room to present projects, get to know each other and exchange experiences.

We are affected by different forms of repression, are privileged and/or oppressed. We should resolve circumstances and define positions based on this facts. While one is born into privileges these privileges are refused to another a life long. And the privileges of the ones are based on the oppression and exclusion of the others. Which role is of use in the struggle against racism? Is our protest the result of a day to day struggle of survival or does one "only" which to live in a world without oppression?

Another vital point is to make a connection between sexism, racism and other forms of oppression. These cannot simply be added or subtracted from each other. They overlap, mix up and are involved with each other. This means that our argue cannot solely focus on the struggle against various forms of racism but also has to involve the numerous layers of privileges. Out of this theoretical considerations results our day to day agitation. While we can exchange our experiences with different forms of action at the congress the consequence should be to find a way to implement these experiences on our everyday life.

We don't want to start from the beginning but build on the experience of former fights and forms of resistance. One example of networking are the europe-wide connected protests for the right to stay, paper for all and freedom of movement which took place on the 2nd of April this year.

All those interested and involved are invited to come to the preparation meetings (as far as possible) or send us ideas for actions, papers, project descriptions or else to agmigration (at) no-racism.net.

Further informations concerning the congress in general and program:

wienerkongress.info/