So-called ‘anti-fascist’ organisers have threatened to respond after a conservative event they allegedly helped get cancelled found a new venue.
The National Conservatism conference — which is set to host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Brexiteer Nigel Farage — had its initial venue pull out last week after pressure from left-wing activists, including those with links to “antifascist organisations”.
While some publications had claimed that the event had officially been “cancelled” due to the leftist activists, organisers announced on Monday that they managed to secure another venue in the centre of Brussels.
Left-wing activists now appear to be putting pressure on the new venue also, with The Brussels Times reporting that the so-called “Coordination Antifasciste de Belgique” has published an open letter requesting they also cancel the conference.
Members of the group claim that they “remain mobilised” to take unspecified action against the event, should it go ahead.
“We therefore call on any venue or institution, Belgian or Brussels-based, to refuse to host this conference, and on the local authorities not to authorize it,” the protesters said.
They added that a celebration rally will be held if the event does end up being cancelled.
“We call on everyone to be ready for a mobilisation on Tuesday at 17:30. We’ll be announcing the location of the mobilisation shortly, depending on where the conference is finally held. If the conference is finally cancelled, we’ll be calling for a festive rally in Brussels.”
Brussels’ Socialist Party mayor, Philippe Close, reportedly put pressure on the venue due to host next week’s National Conservatism conference, leading it to pull out and forcing the organisers to find a last-minute alternative.
More details ⬇️ https://t.co/gfBwczMcZE
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) April 13, 2024
This article has been updated with additional details from the open letter published by those protesting the National Conservatism event.
