Issue and Opponent: For decades, far-right extremists have marched through the streets of Wunsiedel, Germany to promote their ideologies and commemorate the Third Reich. In 2014, the march was planned by the group Rechts gegen Rechts (Right Against Right).
Dilemma Action: Without the marchers’ knowledge, residents and businesses sponsored the participants. For every meter the participants marched, ten euros were donated to an organization titled EXIT Deutschland, which helps individuals escape extremist groups. Humorous banners were hung throughout the town to make the march seem more like a sporting event. These banners read “If only the Führer knew!” and “Mein Mampf!” (my munch). The sign at the end of the march thanked the participants for their donations. The neo-Nazis, upon learning about the plan, had the decision to either proceed and indirectly donate money to the organization or acknowledge their defeat and suspend the march.
Outcomes: This event was praised online through social media sites like Twitter, as German Twitter users praised the idea. Around 10,000 euros were raised for EXIT Deutschland from this event. While this tactic has not kept neo-Nazis from these events in Wunsiedel, it has discouraged their presence, as the attendance at the town’s march the next year was cut in half.