Conscientious objection | "We will not fight in your wars"

On Saturday morning, 200 empty chairs stood on Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. On each chair lay a sign with names and dates of birth: Arseni, born in 1987, and Levin, born in 2001. All of them refused military service in their countries and are being persecuted as a result – they are either imprisoned or forced into hiding. The Object War Campaign alliance commemorated these people who refuse to participate in armed conflicts. As part of an international week of action marking Conscientious Objection Day on May 15, events were held in several countries to take a stand against militarization.

In Germany, activists took to the streets during the week of action in places like Celle, Schwerin, Mannheim, and Osterholz-Scharmbeck. In Berlin, the event was held under the motto "Music instead of War" – an anti-militarist alliance organized a concert on Pariser Platz. The Lebenslaute ensemble played classical music against militarism, fascism, and deportations and sang well-known anti-war songs from around the world. Numerous speakers emphasized the need to stand up for the rights of those who do not wish to carry weapons, especially in times of military buildup.

"Conscientious objection is not a fair-weather right that can be suspended at will."

Rudi Friedrich Connection

"Conscientious objection is not a fair-weather right that can be suspended at will," emphasized Rudi Friedrich of the organization Connection , which supports conscientious objectors and those objecting to military service worldwide. "Conscientious objection is recognized as a human right and must be available at any time." Podcaster and publicist Ole Nymoen declared in a short, passionate speech: "I am not prepared to die for German borders or for any noble values ​​that are currently being upheld. States use you as human material, to be sacrificed for sovereignty in an emergency." His book "Why I Would Never Fight for My Country" has drawn much anger from warmongers – including those from the Green Party. At the rally on Saturday afternoon, however, he received enthusiastic applause.

A highlight of the event was the joint appearance of conscientious objectors Artyom Klyga from Russia and Andriy Konovalov from Ukraine. Both are persecuted in their respective countries and now live in Germany. Together, they broke a papier-mâché rifle. "If people like you were heard more in Ukraine and Russia, there would have been peace between the two countries long ago," said one rally participant. Konovalov and Klyga emphasized that their anti-war stance is certainly supported by segments of the population in both countries – but the suppression of such positions prevents their spread.

Warning voices also came from Africa: "Don't trust anyone who talks about peace while carrying a gun," said Angolan anti-militarist Emanuel Matondo. "War and militarism are two siblings that promote and cement nationalist and racist sentiments, hatred, and exclusion." He referred to Angola's warlike history.

At the end of the event, an activist from the Provisional Anti-War Council—an association of nonviolent anarchists—called for protests against Veterans Day, planned for June 15. "Veterans Day serves to prepare society for war in order to keep pace with global militarization," she explained. Protests against Veterans Day are planned for June 15 in Berlin and other cities.