German Dept. Holds Night Vigil

Condemning the rising tide of neo-Nazi violence and anti-foreigner sentiment in Germany, about 75 people--mostly graduate students and faculty of Harvard's Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures--held a vigil on the steps of Widener Library last night.

Participants lit candles as Professor of German and Comparative Literature Judith L. Ryan called for a moment of silence in respect for the victims of "xenophobic violence."

The event was conceived of after the most recent outbreak of violence, saidgraduate student Peter M. McIsaac, a vigilorganizer.

Two weeks ago, right-wingers fire-bombed anapartment building, killing three Turks. Therehave been 16 deaths and 1,800 attacks by membersof Germany's right wing in the past year.

"The problem has gone on in Germany for a verylong time," he said. "We want to raise awarenessto the severity of the problem. It affectseveryone."

McIsaac also said the vigil was meant toaddress the slow response of the German governmentto the violence. "It became very apparent to usthat the government wasn't moving very quickly,"he said.

But graduate student Maria E. Soliz said sheand other participants were not condemning theGerman government or citizens, only thoseresponsible for the spread of neo-fascism.

Ryan said, however, that she planned to send aletter to Chancellor Helmut Kohl "to expressshock" about recent events.

Participants held signs with messages in Germanand English reading "No to Neo-fascism" and "Forthe Victims of Xenophobia, We Remember."

Abigail E. Gillman, a graduate student, readseveral passages from Primo Levi's book TheDrowned and the Saved, which discusses therecurrence of fascism in Germany.

Participation Important

Several who attended the vigil said they thinkit is important for people to speak out againstthe violence.

"I think that It's important that people atHarvard, especially those who feel a connection toGermany, express their concern and dismay aboutthe rise of xenophobic extremism in Germany," saidhistory graduate student and Hillel member AlexSagan.

Joseph A. Matz, another graduate student, said,"I just find the stuff that's going on in Germanywith the violence against foreigners...to be soterribly tragic.

Two weeks ago, right-wingers fire-bombed anapartment building, killing three Turks. Therehave been 16 deaths and 1,800 attacks by membersof Germany's right wing in the past year.

"The problem has gone on in Germany for a verylong time," he said. "We want to raise awarenessto the severity of the problem. It affectseveryone."

McIsaac also said the vigil was meant toaddress the slow response of the German governmentto the violence. "It became very apparent to usthat the government wasn't moving very quickly,"he said.

But graduate student Maria E. Soliz said sheand other participants were not condemning theGerman government or citizens, only thoseresponsible for the spread of neo-fascism.

Ryan said, however, that she planned to send aletter to Chancellor Helmut Kohl "to expressshock" about recent events.

Participants held signs with messages in Germanand English reading "No to Neo-fascism" and "Forthe Victims of Xenophobia, We Remember."

Abigail E. Gillman, a graduate student, readseveral passages from Primo Levi's book TheDrowned and the Saved, which discusses therecurrence of fascism in Germany.

Participation Important

Several who attended the vigil said they thinkit is important for people to speak out againstthe violence.

"I think that It's important that people atHarvard, especially those who feel a connection toGermany, express their concern and dismay aboutthe rise of xenophobic extremism in Germany," saidhistory graduate student and Hillel member AlexSagan.

Joseph A. Matz, another graduate student, said,"I just find the stuff that's going on in Germanywith the violence against foreigners...to be soterribly tragic.