November 11th 2010, following a call from FAU Stuttgart and LB², a libertarian group from Ludwigsburg, several FAU unions of the southern region participated in a demonstration against plans to redevelop Stuttgart's main rail terminus as an underground facility. The project's name is S21, which has been intensively discussed in Germany due to cases of police violence against peaceful demonstrators. With more than 50.000 participants, this demonstration was surely among the largest events in which FAU unions have been involved during past years.
At the beginning, social-democrat, green and communist party members held propaganda speeches in order to gain profit for the upcoming local election. By the positioning paper “Strike and Blockade. No More Negotiating, Act Now. Stop S21” and by forming an anti-capitalist black block within this demonstration, all participating anarchist groups distanced themselves from any political party interests. It was about the people's resistance against authority, supporting local emancipative forces and fight with them against the central station's restructuring.
People principally showed interest. Besides some, who thought that the FAU cat looks extremely aggressive and black clothed demonstrators frighten others so they won't participate in upcoming demonstrations, many people asked for an explanation of the FAU acronyms and its ideas. The union members were able to talk to a lot of demonstrators and spread newly printed leaflets which inform about the FAU union.
Despite true criticism on S21 protests, the demonstration was a success. A clearly libertarian positioning of FAU Stuttgart and LB² in this conflict, the lively appearance of southern FAU unions, LB² and many anti-capitalist comrades on the demonstration, helped to spread ideas of freedom and anarchism among the people.
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