Unlike Germany’s numerous amorphous groups from the autonomous tradition, however, Rote Hilfe operates as a legal organization in compliance with federal law. It is registered as an association, has an official HQ, and maintains an elected federal executive committee as well as local chapters and activities in the public sphere. Although it is regularly attacked by Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and features prominently in reports by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, it is not a banned organization. This makes the repression it is currently facing all the more astonishing.
Direct action against war in Iraq, and destroying a prison without harming anyone? That’s… impressive, a person accused of being a part of this definitely deserves legal assistance. There’s a huge difference between the left and the right in terms of whom they defend, target and try to avoid collateralizing.