Opinion
anti-Semitism
The Fridays for Future brand is damaged beyond repair
Climate activist Greta Thunberg
© Daniel LEAL / AFP
The international section of Fridays for Future has long been attracting attention on social media with anti-Semitic slogans. The German actors are not to blame – but they too are now in demand.
No, you can’t blame Fridays for Future in Germany. They have distanced themselves. Again and with all clarity. Unfortunately, it has to be said, it was necessary again. And it can be assumed that it will be necessary even more often.
Not just for a few days, no, the international section of climate activists has been attracting attention on social media with anti-Semitic slogans and graphics that forget history. What could now be read on Instagram could not have seriously surprised anyone. You don’t need to judge it too much. It speaks for itself in all its contempt for reality.
“This is NOT a conflict. This is a genocide,” it says. Western media would not tell the “whole story.” Rather, they were engaging in “brainwashing.” They are not independent, but founded by “imperialist governments”.
Very close
Apparently all it takes is a few text tiles and FFF turns into FFC, Fridays for Conspiracy. Why protest for effective climate protection when you can spread nice conspiracy myths?
For the German branch of Fridays, this means: distancing remains right and important, but in the long run it won’t be enough. Anyone who understands October 7, 2023 for what it is, as the day on which more Jews were murdered at once than at any time since the Shoah, must draw much more far-reaching consequences when it comes to who Page and under which brand he or she is involved.
In any case, the FFF brand has been irreparably damaged, once and for all, by anti-Semites and conspiracy enthusiasts in its own ranks. It is no longer acceptable as the name of a group in a civil society discourse that must be anchored in the foundation of this country’s values: Israel’s right to exist is non-negotiable.
For Fridays for Future, the end is terrain
One cannot blame the prominent representatives in Germany around Luisa Neubauer for this. It would also be presumptuous to try to lecture them or give them well-intentioned advice about what to do now. It should be clear to you by now what this is all about: For Fridays for Future, the end of the terrain is over.
Anyone who starts a movement must always take into account that it will not only attract crazy people, but also completely confused people. Without established structures, self-cleaning processes are difficult, which is why leadership is required. With iconization comes great responsibility. You can do justice to that. Or you do it like Greta Thunberg.
Nobody embodies FFF like she does. Thunberg made it clear a few days ago where she stands in this war. She could have stood on the side of empathy and humanity without major contortions. She decided differently. It has taken sides for Palestine, one-sidedly and clearly.
In this country, the leadership reflexes work. Luisa Neubauer has previously explained how small the group that looks after the international social media channels is. How detached this group is from the actual core of the movement. How individuals are pushing their own agenda – against the majority of the movement. And how they abuse the reach for their hatred of Israel.
But who can these explanations help now? Who can rule out that young people in the future will not be attracted by anti-Semitism, which now always resonates when the FFF is mentioned? And do you really want to make it so easy for all those who were already looking for good reasons to trivialize the climate crisis to discredit their own cause?
The FFF branding is irrevocably damaged. But not the idea of a climate-realistic policy. Those who mobilize for the latter will look for new ways.