Collective solidarity statement and call for action by
ANTI-FASCIST ART, TECHNO AND MUSIC ALLIANCE IN BERLIN (AATMA ✦ عتمة)
We are a collective of Berlin-based artists, musicians, DJs, technologists, technicians, event organizers and label managers gathering today under the anti-fascist name of “AATMA”. Circulating in many languages from Arabic to Sanskrit and German, “aatma” is a term that speaks to, on one side, state obfuscation and, on another, an entity, interconnecting life.
We come together to articulate our solidarity with the Palestinian people. AATMA mourns with great sorrow, political fury and a fathomless desire for transformational politics for the over 5000 civilians who have been killed by the IOF over the past 2 weeks. Subjected to a violent and racist occupation by Israel for over 75 years, millions of Palestinians in besieged Gaza and the West Bank endure brutal and humiliating conditions daily. They are dispossessed of their rights to shelter, mobility, food, water and electricity, among others, and continuously exiled from their lands. These appalling conditions, that brutally expropriate and negate life, have led international human rights organizations to designate Israel as an apartheid state which has forced over 6,000,000 Palestinians to live in exile, across the globe.
As Abya Yalan, Arab, indigenous, Jewish, queer and Muslim artists and workers with a multiplicity of identities, we conjoin our voices to condemn the dehumanisation of Palestinian lives by the Israeli and German state and media. In the past weeks, state and city officials in Germany have banned the Palestinian flag, the kafiyyeh, as well as all statements, public gatherings and demonstrations that express solidarity with Palestine. While such draconian policies do not respect the Grundgesetz of the German state nor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it was the police who tried to flimsily provide a “rationale” for these racist practices under the false alibi of fighting “the immediate danger of inciting anti-Semitic exclamations”. On the ground, these burgeouning (il)legal frameworks are being used to criminalize world solidarity with a people undergoing genocide, justify racist police brutality and violence perpetrated by educators against Arab students and threaten tens of thousands of migrants with mass deportation.
During peaceful demonstrations, the unprovoked riot police have been purposefully singling out, beating up and detaining Arab, brown and black protestors. For those of us who live in the Neukölln district of Berlin, we are witnessing such offensive police brutality while simply walking down the street. Home to the largest Arab population per capita in Berlin, Neukölln has become permanently occupied by the police. Riot police, with their reconnaissance armed vehicles and groups of 5-10 officers, patrol the streets at all times in search of signs of Palestinian identity or impromptu displays of solidarity with Palestinians. Children and teenagers are ruthlessly assaulted, suffocated and arrested, while pedestrians are jostled on the sidewalk and attacked with water cannons and pepper spray.
Coalescing our anti-racist and anti-fundementalist efforts against the military-industrial-media complex and its strategies of falsification, erasure and mass confusion, we refuse the conflation of anti-colonialism with anti-semitism. Our ancestors are writhing in their graves as our histories and traumas are exploited as cover for racism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinianism. In Germany, even Jewish Anti-Zionist demonstrations are thwarted in service of maintaining the narrative that this is a religious war. One cannot de-contextualize the armed attacks on October 7th from the everyday militarized terror of 75 years of apartheid.
We decry the violent state crackdown on the freedom of assembly and association and condemn the proliferation of fake news and smear campaigns against artists and DJs in the German media. Public congregation is central to what we do as musicians, DJs and artists. We believe that clubs and cultural spaces can play an important political role in refusing the illegal crackdown on the right to freedom of assembly and the debasing practices of media policing. Instead of relaying corroborated news from the ground, German mainstream media has been outrageously depicting Berlin-based international artists and DJs who express solidarity with the Palestinian people as “terrorists”, “pro-Hamas” and “anti-semites”. We denounce such dangerous practices that undermine the ethics of journalism while misleading and polarizing public discourse. Living in Germany is becoming increasingly unsafe for us. We cannot resume with business as usual as a genocide continues.
As an Anti-fascist Art, Techno and Music Alliance, we call on clubs to become sites of collective mourning and/or organizing. We summon music and cultural venues to offer their spaces for congregation while it is unsafe for us to gather in public. We regard music venues and cultural spaces as important places of techno-political assembly that have historically played substantial roles in resisting fascism. Now more than ever, we need to continue doing that. Since we have all become online witnesses to genocide and the erupted everyday violence of occupation , we cannot remain silent. This is an invitation and invocation to urgently preserve and further transform clubs and art spaces into emancipatory political sites for discourse, solidarity and free association. We cannot succumb to a culture of fear and confoundment, especially as cultural practitioners who are committed to bringing people together during the ongoing writing of history. This is the time for individuals and institutions to voice solidarity statements, question policies, pressure politicians, and most importantly, articulate and situate in the present the decolonial and inclusive politics we have all been advocating for.
In spite of the algorithmic policing and increased censorship on social media, we call on fellow artists to utilize their platforms to refuse the obfuscation of the struggle and demand a ceasefire. As we are committed to politics as praxis and cannot bear your silence during these dire times, we invite you to join us in this call for solidarity and assembly for transformative justice. Our collectivity can protect us.
Our hearts go out in uncontainable grief and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their anti-colonial struggle for liberation and survival.
STOP THE WAR ON GAZA NOW!
PALESTINE WILL BE FREE!
NO TO FEAR!
🟣 🩸 🟣
✦ Jessika Khazrik
✦ Dylan Shir (Via App)
✦ Hexorcismos
✦ Pisitakun
✦ Juliana Huxtable
✦ Sarra Wild
✦ Nicolas Jaar
✦ ABADIR
✦ Maurice Louca
✦ Luz
✦ Duarte Lima
✦ Julia Schneider
✦ Veslemøy Rustad Holseter (Grinderteeth)
✦ Drew Mcdowall
✦ Nicky Mao (Hiro Kone)
✦ Robert Sieg
✦ Ixa
✦ Johannes Bruder (Dead Electronic Space Ltd.)
✦ Jan Krismer
✦ MAWADa
✦ Sarra Wild
✦ Kathryn Fischer (Mad Kate)
✦ Sorrelle McGill (x3butterfly)
✦ Ketia
✦ Eleftheria Orfanidou
✦ António Pedro de Almeida Coimbra Maia Moore
✦ Matthias Reichert
✦ Rita Mikhael
✦ Ellen King (ELLLL)
✦ Dina Khashan
✦ Saliah Bryan
✦ Nomi Sladko
✦ Mauro Ventura
✦ Florence To
✦ Neve Moeller
✦ Abdelrahman Dnewar
✦ Stella Zekri
✦ Cindy Li (Ciel)
✦ Yuko Asanuma
✦ Nene H
✦ Sentimental Rave
✦ Iris Bauer (Alobhe)
✦ Younger than me (Franscesco Mingrino)
✦ Nadine Ahmed
✦ Melisa Fund
✦ Talía Vega León (co-founder Radical Sounds Latin America Festival)
✦ Lucien Helyer (LCY)
✦ Yazzus
✦ Shannen Sp
✦ Room 4 Resistance
✦ Rama Mahanna
✦ DYKON1C
✦ Anonymous
✦ Carina Posse
✦ Luis Manuel Garcia-Mispireta (LMGM)
✦ Khyam Allami
✦ Mx.pinky
✦ Qusay Awad
✦ Juan
✦ Leniko Sennoma
✦ Sara Lehad
✦ Clíona Éadoin Ní Laoi
✦ Connected Differences e.V
✦ Kat Staub (Hermes in drag)
✦ Matale
✦ Anonymous
✦ Beats Against Coal
✦ Eva Resch
✦ Ayed
✦ Anonymous
✦ Space of Urgency
✦ Anonymous
✦ Liese Kingma
✦ Zoë Alhosni
✦ Tash Todd
✦ Jullian Fernandez
✦ aki goto
✦ Sahar Homami
✦ Arnav
✦ Tina von Kugler
✦ Isidora Avedisian
✦ Lou Drago
✦ Marc Lohr
✦ Anonymous
✦ howl
✦ Jessica Sligter
✦ Khaled Asskar
✦ TAKSEER
✦ Rune Maia
✦ Kursiv
✦ Jason Garden
✦ Prudence Dippah-Dina
✦ Majdolen
✦ Karl Wolmesjö
✦ Kasja
✦ Rubbishhh
✦ FunkyKid
✦ Edward Szlasa
✦ Tomasz Kaplon
✦ Nuur S (ariesfallenangel)
✦ Tymm Novyy
✦ CCL
✦ Andrew Phan
✦ DUMP
✦ Anonymous
✦ ābnamā
✦ Aly Akram
✦ Renata Sabella
✦ KMRU
✦ rara
✦ Joan Lee
✦ Yan Liu
✦ Anonymous
✦ Anonymous
✦ Anonymous
✦ Sonia Fernandez Pan
✦ Liv Klutse (livwutang)
✦ Lazy Rosario
✦ Mohamed Abdulrahman
✦ Ziúr
✦ Omnia Darwish
✦ Vibekat
✦ Pablo Querol Delclaux
✦ Falyakon
✦ Irene Carbonari
✦ ACAB
✦ Nicolas Castelli
✦ Antifascist Music Alliance
✦ Maja Chiara Faber (Satin de Compostela)
✦ Max Göran
✦ Lisa Stertz
✦ Cecile Perrot SXCL
✦ Thick Pools
✦ Assyouti
✦ Saud
✦ Sidney Phillips
✦ Lucía Morales
✦ Zaina S
✦ Lukas Jezek (SyndromeLZRS)
✦ mumtaz hammad (mortalcoil)
✦ Nono Gigsta
✦ Robin
✦ Lily Smith
✦ dai ruiz
✦ Codex Club
✦ David Barriga Ruano
✦ landscape
✦ Victoria Ardiles
✦ Apnea
✦ Shedra Dervishi
✦ Zaki Hagins
✦ Alexandra Hale
✦ Creamcake
✦ Alexander Weber
✦ Stix Omar
✦ Nicky Miller
✦ RQVX
✦ Shahd Katba
✦ Solveig Qu Suess
✦ Marylou Guerra
✦ Mahya Ketabchi
✦ Varis Lis
✦ Loopa
✦ Drami
✦ Jiannyuh
✦ Cru Encarnação
✦ Lilian Aya Bencze
✦ HOUSE OF BASE
✦ Berenice (Vera Amores)
✦ Aideen O‘Donovan
✦ Ak Knol
✦ Kria Lara Danielsdottir
✦ Ahmed Abdelazim (SAFWAT)
✦ Luanne Horner
✦ Kia Sydney
✦ Taim
✦ Salma Hassaan
✦ Ale Hop
✦ Feyd Angeles
✦ DAIYAH
✦ Radio Jaljira
✦ Lar
✦ Rhama Corvalan
✦ Jojo (Justin)
✦ Eugene Pascal
✦ Bod
✦ Hassandra
✦ Ophélie
✦ Zan (ZpurpZ)
✦ Triana
✦ Daniel Nicholls
✦ A lake by the mõõn
✦ Rgm
✦ Alicja Sowiar
✦ Stephen Howe
✦ Mister Honey
✦ Busynesss.eth
✦ Sylvester Vogelius
✦ Ivy
✦ Sandra Pereira
✦ Liz Miller
✦ Neska
✦ LEYLA_NOUHEYLA
✦ Mama Snake / Sara Svanholm
✦ sain𐤲
✦ Constança Blanc
✦ Sean Woodard
✦ yi
✦ CÁRPATOS
✦ Alecchina
✦ yaoer zeng
✦ Nberon Barila Yoon
✦ Julian Falk
✦ Jad Murad
✦ MVD0AE
✦ Sara A
✦ Courtroom Drama
✦ Diane Barbé
✦ Nik Patrick Flynn
✦ Hussein ( oldyungmayn)
✦ Lara Golz (Golden Medusa)
✦ Ruhail Qaisar
✦ Marius
✦ Spinachrot
✦ Line Foulon
✦ Juli Carrere
✦ Alisa Heil
✦ SPFDJ
✦ Renato Moreira
✦ Byron Yeates
✦ Creps
✦ Elsa Haiby
✦ Giuliano Pascoe
✦ Nadia Wise
✦ ELLE FIERCE
✦ Alexander
✦ Ima$helachemZona
✦ Chicx Drama
✦ Arni Vector
✦ Kenda Hmeidan
✦ Davide Luciani
✦ XrysafeniaX
✦ Isabella Glenn
✦ Darta Treimane
✦ Rag-Up
✦ Folly Ghost
✦ Reham Mansour
✦ Iona
✦ Adrienne Teicher
✦ Rafi
✦ Sabrina Bellenzier
✦ Berlin Collective Action
✦ Sugar Paloma
✦ Hannah ellis
✦ MARVIN | DAZLBØY
✦ Sara Mardini
✦ Wanton Witch
✦ Struktur
✦ Yasmin Sun
✦ Yesenia Rojas
✦ Erick Gonzalez
✦ Chandé
✦ Dora Bielschowsky
✦ Yui Tsuchiya
✦ AGILITÄT
✦ Mattin
✦ Maite Cintron
✦ Katie Milne
✦ Davide Luciani
✦ Stray Signals
✦ Jonais Galindo Alvarez
✦ Row Sarkela
✦ Kikelomo
✦ Valeria Bauccio
✦ Giovanni Bodrato
✦ Party Office
✦ Tam Tam
✦ Outlet Community Radio
✦ 90mil
✦ Iqra Nowshari
✦ Nanna Maria Wibholm
✦ Raphael Rodriguez
✦ Aïsha Devi
✦ Kotoe
✦ Bonyface
✦ Mane Bonamin
✦ Nicolás Kisic Aguirre
✦ Dornika
✦ Vicky Truong
✦ DJ COMEDOWN
✦ Orlagh Dooley (Or:la)
✦ Simon Lemont
✦ m13ld3m0r4
✦ De Smeytere
✦ Beneteau
✦ Aaron Anders
✦ Kuo
✦ Chalane Bauzo
✦ Safaa Abu Nemer
✦ Shaunak Mahbubani
✦ Olivia Fernandez
✦ Dusty Whistles
✦ Daniel Nicholls
✦ Mattea
✦ Fukinsei
✦ SITOI
✦ AL GHARIB
✦ Giulia Mengozzi (ALMARE)
✦ Linnkü
✦ Merma Suelo
✦ Dan Outón
✦ মm.
✦ Ivy Barkakati
✦ Stefan Christoff
✦ Bella Cuts
✦ Arabian Panther
✦ Vera Karlsson
✦ Najah Rizvi
✦ Vice City
✦ Fukinsei
✦ Alia El-Iraki
✦ Rachel Silverstein
✦ Ibnan Ali
✦ HP Loveshaft
✦ Ziyad Hawwas
✦ mixo_world
✦ exude
✦ Saman Mahdavi
✦ مهسا كوچك
✦ d.a.
✦ LA UYI
✦ Petal
✦ Dylan Kerr
✦ Stun Sister
✦ Nicky Böhm
✦ Disco Samir
✦ Sara Valentino
✦ Henning F
✦ Hamad (Van Boom)
✦ SONDUKE MAGAZINE
✦ Melissa LaBee
✦ d4mnj4r
✦ T.Savas
✦ Boule Habile
✦ Hydra Lakes
✦ Tamara Antonijevic
✦ emergentspaces
✦ Annemarie Sodderland
✦ Hai Van Trinh
✦ Spencer Etchechoury
✦ Simona
✦ Blue Lecursor
✦ Julian
✦ Djenny Blue Chanel
✦ Cristina Maino
✦ Laszlo Farkas
✦ Dalia Maini
✦ Dan Glass
✦ Melih Akyazililar
✦ P0brediabla
✦ Pussy T Ranz
✦ Louise Trueheart
✦ Michela d’Alfonso
✦ Leonardo Di Gennaro
✦ Lucio Capece
✦ Noah Gokul
✦ Nicky Miller
✦ Selma Banich
✦ Yalda Younes
✦ Gøneja ✷
✦ Hana Bei
✦ Iva
✦ Nathan Witt
✦ Ämin Klai
✦ ريما
✦ Ilish
✦ Oily Lagoon
✦ Farah Kaysi
✦ TERR
✦ Rocco (KOX)
✦ Saverio Cantoni
✦ Tin Wilke
Visual renditions of the statement are available here for circulation.
If you’re circulating on social media, you can tag us on @aatma.berlin
THE TRUTH IS NONE OF US WILL BE FREE UNTIL ALL OF US ARE FREE! ⚭