Communique of the Antifascist Coalition

Warsaw 11.11.11

Again groups of the extreme right have tried to march through Warsaw. Nationalists and Neo-fascists from across Poland as well as from abroad have come to the capitol to allegedly demonstrate their patriotism. With it, they have left behind horrified residents, injured police, torn-up streets, burnt media vehicles, smashed bus stops, demolished cars.

By 9 in the morning close to 50 militant nazis with bats in-hand patrolled Trech Krzyzy square looking for a confrontation. At 11:30 another group of nationalists attacked people coming from Nowy Swiat street, but they were met with resistance. The police arrived and intervened. As the first arrests of the neo-fascists began antifascists were forced into Krytyka Polityczna, a November 11th friendly bar.

The legal gathering the “Colorful Independence” manifestation along with the antifascist blockade have come under attack from groups of neo Nazis armed with metal pipes. They have burnt the TVN news van, along with the Polsat Polish news company and Polish Radio cars, and members of the Independence March have attacked the Russian embassy and the Belvedere. Gathering at Constitution Square the “patriots” have torn up the cobblestones and attacked the police. Into the night, violent fascists roved the city, “patriots” hunting for people. The one place where you could feel safe was the antifascist zone on Marszalkowska street – thanks to the collective strength of the “Colorful Independence” manifestation and the antifascist blockade. It’s hard to imagine what would have been, if the “March of devastation in the name of Independence” would have entered the center of the city. But that, we prevented.

Now the organizers of the march, ONR (Radical Nationalist Camp) and Młodzież Wszechpolska (All Polish Youth) are counting on societies short memory, trying to distance themselves from their hooligan comrades. If they wouldn’t have destroyed the city, terrorized the public with countless injured – we might think it’s funny. But the impudence and hypocrisy of the leaders of the extreme right has long since ceased to be funny. The organizers of the Independence March invited and ushered in the most aggressive groups from all over Poland. Accompanying them in their buses were the leaders of the nationalists and hooligans and together spread their terror. The right-wing populist, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, personally encouraged violence!

Help also came from the right-wing media, who for weeks have manipulated public opinion, fueling the aggression. And how effectively: half the city demolished and terrorized from morning to night – Mr. Editors Ziemkiewicz and Struzik – these are you patriots?

For years we have warned that the extreme right is a great threat in this country. It would seem that a long list of the victims of the nationalist, neo-fascist, and racist attacks in the last months would be enough to understand the scale of the danger. Obviously not. Maybe today – Independence Day, which brought the brutal violence of the demonstration – will help the public, journalists, city hall, and all parts of society understand that the problem is real and must be fought.

If the current state continues, as antifascists from the Novemeber 11th coalition we will continue to take the streets, we will continue to barricade, we will stand in the streets and scream “no pasaran.” We see no alternative – if not us, then who?
Thank you, all Varsovians and everyone who came together with us to stand in the way of this plague. It required dedication and determination from you. You were incredible! Again we kept them from the center of the city. For an end to fascist marches under the cover of historic events. No pasaran!