Peaceful anti-fascist march through Krakow

Polish-language news portal Onetreports that about 150 anti-fascist demonstrators marched peacefully through the streets of Krakow today to protest what they view as the rise of dangerous far-right movements in Poland and beyond.

Carrying a banner which said (in Polish) “FASCISM IS NOT PATRIOTISM,” the marchers shouted slogans such as “Poland is only white in winter.”

At a gathering on Krakow’s Main Square, Jagiellonian University professor Professor Anna Niżegorodcew emphasized that the movement was inclusive and drew upon many traditions, including the European project, folk tradition, Catholicism, and various leftist movements throughout Polish history. Music and poetry was performed, such as “Hatred” by celebrated Polish writer Wislawa Szymborska.

The march was supported by various center and left political parties (PO, Nowoczesna, the Green Party, SLD, Razem, the Union of European Democrats) as well as several center-to-left organizations: KOD Małopolska, Stowarzyszenie Kuźnica, And the National Women’s Strike (Krakow).

Today was chosen as it marks the 96th anniversary of the assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz, the first president of Poland, who was assassinated by a right-wing attacker in 192 just five days into his term.