A tens of thousands-strong fascist-led march took place in Warsaw on Polish Independence Day last Saturday (11 nov 2017). At the same time anti-fascists organised a thousands-strong counter demonstration.
On the fascist march flags with Celtic crosses and other fascists symbols flew alongside banners. They read, “Europe will be white or depopulated”, “White Europe of brotherly nations” and “Pure blood, sober mind”. The marchers chanted antisemitic, Islamophobic and anti-left slogans.
[..] A group of eight courageous women infiltrated the fascist march with a banner saying, “Stop fascism”. They were kicked, spat on and dragged out of the march by stewards. The police were nowhere to be seen. They allowed the thugs to police themselves—but on the anti-fascist demonstration the police were everywhere.
[..] Over the last few years the fascists have seized the opportunity of mobilising people behind their banners on Poland’s Independence Day. Their so-called “Independence March” is many, many times bigger than anything else they can organise during the rest of the year. [..] Contrary to some reports the fascist march was not the biggest ever, with both the police and Warsaw council’s estimates smaller than last year. And this year’s police estimate of 60,000 was a huge exaggeration, meant to please interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak.
[..] The antifascist demonstration was much smaller, but it did number thousands and had new people taking part for the first time. It united left organisations—including new left party Razem (Together) which got 550,000 votes in the last election—pro-choice activists, anarchists, trade unionists, LGBT+ activists and Greens. Significantly the campaign to label the fascists as “fascists” has begun to bear fruit. Many more people are aware of the fascist nature of the Independence March organisers.
Read more: https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/45653/Polish+anti+fascists+make+brave+stand+against+mass+march
QueerAnarchism 