Back to: Publications | DEUTSCHE FASSUNG: Hier klicken (German Version)
GRANS-UNITED
https://grans-united.org | info@grans-united.org
German non-governmental civil society private network of independent organizations, individuals,
and a special working group of OMAS GEGEN RECHTS (Grannies Against the Far-Right)
Dear American Citizens,
We have an urgent message for all Americans.
We are observing a democracy in grave jeopardy, with great risk to the freedoms Americans hold so dear.
We know because we’ve been there.
And we encourage and support peaceful civil protest and action to defend and save those freedoms.
We are a German non-governmental civil society private network of independent organizations and private individuals. One of our members is a working group of OMAS GEGEN RECHTS (Grannies Against the Far-Right), who, after being founded in Vienna, Austria in 2017, have been active in Germany since 2018. The “OMAS” (Grannies / grandmothers) are recognized as one of the most influential civil society women’s initiatives in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, campaigning against right-wing populism and for democracy. The German Grannies against the Far-Right are mostly women who grew up in post-war Germany. Some of them experienced the Second World War themselves.
In this network (Grans-United), we have joined forces to take a stand against right-wing extremist ideologies and fascism. Given Germany’s history, we see this as our collective duty, especially to our children and grandchildren. We know from our own experience how fascism can destroy a country, its freedom, and its society. And it is our responsibility to leave our descendants and future generations a world in which there is no place for dictatorship, hatred, and fear.
World War II destroyed Europe and killed millions of people. Promises of “greatness and superiority” (fascism) led our nation into a war of annihilation against our neighbors. These promises duped people into following its egregious and inhumane ideology about “unworthy life.”
It has taken generations to try to heal the wounds – and they remain. That is why after the Second World War, Germany took an oath on which our constitution is based: never again will we allow ourselves to be ruled by fascism.
Without the United States’ involvement, the allied forces would not have succeeded in liberating Germany from the terror of Nazism. We remain profoundly grateful for this. Without your country, Germany would not have democracy today.
This connects our two countries, and for this reason we appeal to you so urgently today to warn all Americans.
Your democracy is in danger!
When we look at today’s America, we see a deeply divided nation. We no longer see the country that helped liberate us a mere 80 years ago. What we see today leaves us thoroughly shaken.
“Make America Great Again” (MAGA) is a right-wing populist slogan. And slogans like these justify fascism. We know because we have seen this before. We understand how fascism grows and how it manipulates citizens with false promises that exploit their fears and prejudices. We know because in our country, too, people longed for a strong leader and believed his promises.
MAGA leaders are quickly destroying American democracy, American society, and increasingly, the American economy, while enriching themselves in the process.
It was no different here in 1933. At first, some people believed they were benefiting from Hitler’s policies, but that changed rapidly. The fascists had already divided people into categories and cruelly judged their worth and their lives. Once Hitler became Imperial Chancellor in January 1933, it took the Nazis only two months to completely destroy the Weimar democracy.
Watching your federal government occupy cities and target migrants and others seems eerily familiar:
- the rapid destruction of the rule of law;
- suppression of speech, including the press, universities, science, and the basic rights of assembly;
- imperialist fantasies about conquering other countries, even allies;
- information control and centralized propaganda;
- blatant corruption at the highest level;
- violent expulsion of people under the guise of illegal migration; and
- an exodus of the brightest minds to other countries where they can freely do their work.
MAGA cannot offer a future for the American dream. Worse, the crisis of your democracy is directly linked to our future, indeed, that of the world.
But there is hope!
We are seeing peaceful resistance to this new fascism, most recently as a response to ICE’s violence in Minneapolis and in other cities. The ‘NO KINGS’ movement has mobilized millions of protesters. These demonstrations have been larger than anything that was seen in Germany after 1933.
The time to act is now!
History has taught us that all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. We believe in the goodness of the American people. We know that there are millions of citizens on both sides of the political spectrum who are deeply concerned about the path their country is on, including those who thought their vote would make America great.
Many hoped for a better future, but all they’ve gotten are lies. The time is now for the citizens of America to stand up to fascism and defend your democracy – just as you did for Germany and the world. You still have the chance to do what our ancestors failed to do.
Know that you are not alone. We’re facing similar dangers here in Germany and Europe. But there are many good people standing up for each other – for democracy, human rights, and a positive, shared future.
Never Again is NOW!
Signed, Grans-United
https://grans-united.org
info@grans-united.org
January 2026