I have just watched the film "Wszytko co kocham", a film one can watch online in Polish here. It's about young lads having a punk band during the start of martial law in Poland in 1981 and the effect it has on their family and, of course, love life. It's interesting insofar that it shows well what Poland looked like then and shows the uncertainty of life in those days (a girl was to flee to Germany, meaning that the guy would probably never see her again).
One scene in the film showed the band performing at a gig. As one of the band had been beaten by the military police the crowd started chanting "Solidarność" and the band played a song that had not yet passed censorship. That the act was one of rebellion there was an intense energy there, one of being against something oppressive.
Now of course, according to many western (Reagonomics/Thatcherite) people, Poland is "free". Certainly, we have democracy now and freedom of movement.
Freedom is more nuanced than that, however. Let's look at what's happened in Wrocław today:
This evening an event (a film plus discussion) about feminist pornography was to take place. Owing to a protest from a Facebook group organised by "KoLiber Wrocław"* (KoLiber meaning conservative-liberal) the event was cancelled this morning.
One should know that feminist pornography takes the view that sexism by men against women is a key component of mainstream pornography and therefore women play more of a role in the setting of the scenes. One does not have to be a fan of pornography (or even feminist pornography) to see the need for, in a democratic "free" country being able to discuss such issues openly.
This is however Poland in 2012 we are talking about. No matter that Wrocław is the "city of tolerance". Wrocław is after all the city where fascists can march unimpeded by democrats and where they can freely attack them and where LGBT marches need police protection. Wrocław is seemingly the city of institutional censorship (though the event may eventually take place). Seriously, if musicians wish to find the same energy of the punk bands of the early 1980's, they should concentrate on the modern-day anti-democracy forces.
Incidentally, a brief look at the "attendees" of the protest against the event includes one guy with an NOP symbol. Of course, one can be supported by all manner of people; saying that, administrators of Facebook groups can be more discerning in who they allow into their group. Perhaps the Priest I see as an attendee can say something about that. I also note that KoLiber Wrocław is a fan of xenophobe Neil Farange. I am not alleging that Wroclaw (or KoLiber) are a bunch of raging Nazis, I am saying that the suppression of discussion about issues of the abuse of women is anti-democratic. The linking together of feminist pornography with child pornography also shows an argument lacking in intellect.
EDIT: The event will now take place in Falanster at 6pm, Wednesday the 11th of January. (English. Polish.)
* I put a question on the Facebook group of "KoLiber Wrocław" asking them about what they thought about having a supporter who has a symbol of NOP as his picture. My question was deleted. I shall therefore take it that they don't like questions about whether they have supporters who support anti-semitism, racism and homophobia. I appreciate it is not an comfortable question to answer, though it would be easy to answer "no" to my question. I note also the connections between the group and the fascist parade last November. Again, I'm not saying that there's a bunch of Nazis, just that they have a connection to them.
Just one more article (following the last one) about last Friday's events (EDIT: alright, I have one more, which I'll probably do next week.)
Those dangerous anti-fascists in Warsaw
You've heard about those anti-fascist Germans who came to Poland to confront the far-right? Well I was with some of them. I know what they did. You see this attack? (You must have. The mainstream media has been full of it. Alert as they are to right-wing violence.)
The Germans were there! I saw them. I spoke with them, before, during and after the "equivalent to the far-left" went past. You know what they did? What dastardly action they did? They backed away to escape the fire torches being thrown at us. The violent, coming-to-Poland-to-start-fights bastards! If you don't believe me (and understand German), read this article of German terror!
Some, for some evil reason didn't join with the continued (and enabled by the police, left-wing violence fans) march of the anti-fascists. I spoke with those that did come with us. We laughed about having such a peaceful time in Poland.
Probably not a German, but I can do with a nice picture here
Oh, you didn't want to hear about them
Alright, the other Germans. Let's move away from Wrocław, then.
To tell the truth, my Polish isn't the best. I can understand the general gist of articles in Polish, but my head starts to spin after a while, so I am reliant upon Google translations; which only adds to the lack of comprehension of what happened. Anyway, here is a report about those dastardly Germans and now follows the aforementioned translation:
German anti-fascists argue that it did not take part in riots on 11 November. - As we all know, the riots began around 14.00-15.00, and ended around 17.00. While all the German group has already been stopped at 12.00, so you do not have the opportunity to take part in riots - said the representative. [...] Representatives of anti-fascists of Germany said that at the time of arrest were not allowed to contact a lawyer and an interpreter was not provided for 32 hours to stop not given food or drink.
At. 15.00, where we were detained for a long time at the police station, 8 thousand. neo-fascists in the city center was beating people, the police beat and devastated city - he said.
Today, when I was released, I read in the German media and learn from the Polish media that we have a responsibility for the escalation of violence in the city center. How is it possible that people who were trapped three hours earlier could devastate the city center?
As pointed out Representative Agreement on November 11 , German participation in the events was negligible, because most of them were released after detention without charges, and charges against some of them are not very significant.
"... allegations were presented to us. Translator was unable to translate them, twice translated it wrong. I said that I do not want to participate in this circus, I tried to leave, he demanded a lawyer. We wanted to grab the phone, twisted our hands. Translator said he did not want to further explain. The situation escalated, officers with the interpreter began to challenge us. (...) We were in a room with five girls, the officers sang "Deutschland uber alles Deutschland" and other racist song. K. mocked that she burst into tears after the hearing, and that at first glance might be considered a man. (...) In the morning we asked for food and warm drinks, but we received nothing. It was cold, the windows were still open. "
"... Circle 0:30, when it became clear that on that day no longer get out to freedom, our cries for water became louder. In response, called for more police officers in full riot gear battle. Until the end of steel over our heads, playing with guns, throwing gas and making sarcastic remarks. Peter was Head of the floor leading to the people in the chicanes. We are constantly walking through the floor yelling, preaching to get up and sit down, etc. .. Seven of us were taken to a place resembling a drunk tank chamber (tiles on the walls, etc.). They gave us to sign the Charter of Rights was written in German, in which the speech was enjoyed by us about the right to an interpreter - this place was not. We had to strip naked and do squats and then we were thrown into the cell. In the morning (after 17 hours) we got breakfast and confined us again in the cell. "
So, the claims are that Germans were in fact abused by the police, in fact, I would use the word tortured.
I daresay you've heard of that, eh?
The violence in Warsaw
There are allegations that the media is falsifying the picture of what happened on the 11th of November. The usual 'far-left versus far-right' (with the subtext that both groups are as bad as each other) dominates the narrative (not that Poland is alone in this, though watch out for another link later in this article).
As I have said, due to the outright falsified representation of what happened in Wrocław (I know about what happened, as I was there) I have not been trusting the accounts of what has happened in Warsaw.
Starting at 9 am nearly one hundred and fifty right-wing thugs with sticks in their hands circling the pl. Three Crosses in search of victims. Around 11:30 another group of people walking nationalists attacked the New World, but you put a resolute resistance. Police enters into action. This leads to the first arrests neo-fascists, while the anti-fascists are pushed to the premises of Political Critics, the Coalition of Agreement.
So legally, and anti-fascist Independent Colored Lock are constantly attacked by a group of neo-fascists, armed with metal pipes. Burning outside broadcast van TVN, Polsat cars are destroyed and the Polish Radio, the participants of the March of Independence attack the embassy of Russia and the Belvedere.
Gathered at the Constitution Square "patriots" pull cobblestones and attack the police.
This is born out by this video, which shows the fascists attack the police (from about 4:30):
Anti-fascists were attacked on the street:
I think this type of video shows the context in which 'right against left' happened. The far-right attacked the anti-fascists, therefore they defended themselves. One sees no sign here of both groups going after each other.
He we see fascists attacking a left-wing shop:
Fascists also attacked a Vegan cafe:
The media said that members of 'far-left' had attacked people in Polish football shirts and also a historical enactment society. While I don't trust the media (have you heard of any of the videos or claims given in this article?) it is possible that they happened (this may be due to a cultural misunderstanding, seriously). Perhaps video evidence can be offered. The organisers of the anti-fascists have spoken of 'people not attached to us' who did violent things. Now, that may not be true. Perhaps the fascists are saying the same. But no, the attack on the shop shown above shows that the far-right crowd supported their actions.
Proportionally, the far-right were responsible for more violence on Friday. This does not invalidate the seriousness of any violence done by the 'far-left', but it has to be remembered that the narrative that the 'far-left and far-right went to the parade in order to attack the other' is not true. The far-right went there to attack the anti-fascists.
NEWS JUST IN: It seems that one of the people allegedly 'beaten' by the Germans is the creator of a conservative-nationalist website, a website that had (before they had been quickly deleted) links to the Klu Klux Klan and Redwatch (an anti left-wing page used to help people know who they're supposing to be hitting.) Indeed, here it is shown that Mr Rafał is a Nazi. Hmmm.
This is also new. Turns out that those historical enactment people actually attacked the German anti-fa, joining in with the attack that fascists had started!
Whenever something involving violence happens there's a media panic afterwards. People feel the need that 'something must be done'. Politicians get caught up in this mood. The result is never good for human rights. We've had the Patriot Act in the US, various anti-terror legislation in GB, and so on.
Poland is not exempt from this. I gather that there may be a ban on the covering of faces. I covered my face in Wrocław. The police used tear gas and I was trying to protect myself. Also, the fascists were taking photos of us, so to avoid future bother I covered my face a bit as well and my clothes were very much not stand-outy. Incidentally, this is one reason (and also that of police violence) why Black Blocks wear black clothes. The banning of covering faces would be dangerous.
The banning of counter-demos is plainly undemocratic. Also, simply having the far-right and the police would not a peaceful situation make, as the video showing them attacking the police above makes clear.
I would hope, and I would say that regardless of one's political views (i.e. I hope the same for the fascists as well) that any legal procedures would follow humane procedures with respect for the human rights of the defendants.
One thing that the state could do would be to ban flares and lit-torches. They are weapons and were used against the left in both Warsaw and Wrocław (with no police invention in Wrocław).
If the state really means business, their representatives would come to the counter-demos on Wrocław and Warsaw next year, in order to show their commitment to democracy.
I won't hold my breath.
As Germany is finally remembering, the far-right are extremely violent. Graffiti in Białystok and the hospitalisations of gays in Kraków are two examples of what they have done this year. German intelligence has been massively criticised for not knowing of a Nazi-cell group in Zwickau which were responsible for the deaths of ten people over the past ten years. Perhaps they were too busy looking at the 'far-left'.
PS The successful approach of anti-fascists in Dresden gives us some hints as to what we can do in Poland. Look at this article.
If you wish to keep in touch with upcoming articles (on the Jewish graveyard in Oświęćim, the new modern art museum in Wrocław as well as some cool cafe, and the 'Taboos and other subjects to piss people off' series), 'like' my page on Facebook here.
I'd like you to do a little role-playing now. Imagine yourself to be a young lad or lass
You're not interested in politics., but you're happy that Poland regained its independence in 1918. You like living in Poland (your friends are Polish, you like Polish hip-hop, you've had many nice holidays in Zakopane and Sobot.) You're glad to be Polish.
Some friends of yours hard about a 'march of patriots' on Polish Independence Day and, as Poland will be playing Italy in Wrocław that evening, it sounds like a cool thing to do, to experience the mood before a game, to express that you're glad to be Polish. You arrive in Wrocław, and wow! So many people! These are people like you.
The march starts and people light flares, like at a football game. It's all so impressive. You feel good. We're all Poles together. You enjoy the football-type chants. This is a good thing. You walk along, and people are smiling, people are making noise, on this nice looking market square, packed together. This is Poland!
While walking away from the market square you see a small group.
Violent, up to no good, anti-free speech scum, apparently
They appear to be against us. People around you at shouting at them, so they must be against this parade. They're anti-Polish, people are shouting. They're not one of us. They're not real Poles. You are caught up with the group mood. Apparently they are the 'red gang'. That name rings a bell. They must be communists. They did bad things in Poland.
You see a flag with a man you don't recognise on it. "Who's he?", you ask your friend. "Roman Dmowski", is the answer. He was a "Polish patriot" who helped to make Poland exist. He wanted to protect Poland against their enemies, "Germans and the Jews".
You have already noticed a few flags with the letters 'NOP" written on them. You don't know who they are, but they must be cool. They organised this parade, you hear. You like this parade, so the NOP must be good people. They are pro-Poland and anti-those who are against Poland. Your grandmother had told you about those nasty gays, trying to destroy Poland on behalf of the EU. They're not like us.
You begin to feel more powerful as part of the group. God bless (Roman) Catholic Poland and the NOP!
The importance of a strong counter-voice
What I have tried to convey here is the process made possible by such marches. A march by fascists is not the danger per se. A Poland without marches by fascists would not mean a Poland without fascists. The thing is, a bit of awareness of group dynamic procedures (see Zimbardo) shows two outcomes that can occur after marches by fascists: While such inbetweeners may not be as radical as the NOP fascists, such a march strengthens their sense of being Polish, a sense with is exclusive. People of other religions, views: LGBT's and Jews implicitly do not fit into this Poland. This implicit sense can become more explicit over time, upon being exposed to more radical views. While the young people or other 'patriots' may not leave the parade as NOP members, they'll be more open to them as being a "good thing" and also more open to extreme views.
Secondly, the point of the fascists I imagine they felt more powerful after the march. They were so big, and the counter-demo was so little. Such a feeling of power can lead to an escalation of violence in their everyday life (attacks on people of different colours, graffiti on Jewish graveyards), as they feel that there is a small opposition to them.
That we, the counter-demo was so small (there were about 150 of us compared to 1,200 of them) shows that no credible alternative to right-wing extremism was demonstrated. For the inbetweeners such a parade can serve as a turning point. The counter-demo was so small and contained no-one they had heard of. No Priest. No politician.
Of course, there was the 'march for tolerance' on the Wednesday before (a good event that I attended), but I doubt if the fascists and inbetweeners read Gazeta Wyborcza, the newspaper which supported the event, an event which will certainly serve to maintain or increase group cohesion between those who are pro-tolerance; furthermore, the Israeli/Norwegian/Polish school exchange will help.
With a very small exception, those who support tolerance did not turn up to stand against intolerance. Instead, they left it to the anarchists. However, anarchists are not liked by the mainstream.
Prejudice against the 'far-left' and anarchists
Gazeta Wyborcza has reported that at there were 'gangs from both sides running after each other' (last year) and 'people on both sides were throwing fireworks at each other' (this year). Probably unlike the reader of this article, I was present at both events. Regarding last year the claim is totally untrue. I saw one scuffle between an antifa girl and a fascist over a flag. What was reported simply didn't happen. Regarding the throwing of the fireworks, well look at this video:
Torches of fire were thrown at us as soon as they came to us. These hit people. One girl found herself with small burning bits of paper on her head. I would estimate that about 25 lit torches were thrown at us, and two lit flares. Of them about four lit torches were thrown back. The words used by Gazeta Wyborcza are a misrepresentation of what happened. We were under a sustained attack. People on our side backed away from the police line to avoid being hit. Some went into the passage to escape the flames. We were under immense provocation (click on the video about, by the way, and see how in the comments how happy people were that we were being attacked in such a manner). That is the context in which to read that some lit torches were thrown back. The great majority of people on our side simply stamped the torches out. (Read also here for first-hand eyewitness accounts.)
This attack on us was simply described with the words "people on both sides were throwing fireworks at each other", thus creating the false impression of the same old story of the 'far-left and far-right being as bad as each other' (something I wrote about here). The Gazeta Wyborcza did also not help in their selection of photos shown, which showed no lit torch coming our way (I would put this down to a difficulty in producing such photos myself, or perhaps I am being naive).
I have also read the claim that all of those who protested against the 'patriots' were there to do violence. This is a spurious claim with no basis in reality. This is the usual anarcho-bashing. Please, if you are to comment on 'anarchist violence' do a bit of research first.
Another incident happened, by the way; one that I am not clear about. For some time hundreds of fascists didn't march, rather, in the midst of the thrown lit torches stood in front of the police shouting abuse at us. I then saw that some policemen were hitting some of the fascists. It seemed that either the fascists were attacking the police or that they were trying to get through the police to get to us. In any case, the police used tear gas, I thought to push the fascists back, but I also hear in order to 'separate the two sides'. In fact hardly any of us were right behind the police due to the aforementioned fire-attack. It is for this reason that most of us covered our faces with scarfs. Bear that in mind regarding the discussion about people hiding their faces. (A separate article will be written about the state's answer to the day's events.)
Fear
Bravado, alcohol, group dynamics were some of the reasons why we were attacked (furthermore, after the march we were to find ourselves surrounded by fascists by Hotel Monopol with the police protecting us on both sides). There's more to that, though. It was, consciously or unconsciously an attempt to scare us. This is a common fascist tactic: Recently the English Defense League sent a warning message to the Occupy LSX campers in GB. Plus we have Breivik, of course.
They wanted to discourage us from coming again next year and from using civil courage in any acts of violence we see in our daily lives. I know some who avoided coming due to the fear of violence. It is this fear that strengthens fascists. It's a (pardon the pun) vicious circle: They had a greater number, so they felt more powerful, so they attacked us (such an attack didn't happen last year when the numbers were more equal). Less people may attend next year as a result. I was with people who were at their first protest. They backed away from the missiles coming our way and I don't think they'll come to a protest again.
Those violent anarchists again, this time in Warsaw
If one wants a more tolerant Poland one has to do more than support tolerance (through marches, days of business, exchanges), one has to show courage by opposing intolerance in our daily lives, including during such marches. By backing off, by showing fear, by inaction, by staying at home, by complaining about those people who actually wish to let fascists know what they think fascists get stronger (and, read these words very closely:
Those at the counter-demo did not want to stop the fascists from speaking their opinions, rather, letting the fascists know about theirs.)
An alternative circle would be: More anti-fascists than fascists would mean that an attack would be less likely* as the fascists would feel less powerful and anti-fascists would feel more powerful. To conclude: Such parades serve to move impressionable people to the far-right and to make the far-right feel more powerful. They physically attack the anti-fascists, who find no sympathy from those who were not there who don't know the full story of what happened.
Had the state, Christians, the vaguely left-wing and liberals supported our stand for democracy and tolerance and against fascism, this would be a different situation in Wrocław. But no, the usual scapegoating and easy-to-say-but-not-provable saying 'the far-left are as bad as the right' prejudice dominates.
Oh, and regarding the events in Warsaw I cannot comment too much because, if I know that the media are reporting untrue accounts of what happened in Wrocław then I cannot trust what is being reported about Warsaw. I can only say that, again, we see the violent nature of the far-right in their bloody attack on the police. If the information regarding German 'anarchists' (here one has to be careful, as we don't know that they are anarchists. Anarchists are a very diverse group) is true, it sounds to me like, I am being serious here, a cultural misunderstanding about national symbols and who wears them. I'll see what information emerges before I comment further.
A humble message to those who stood up to the fascists:
Thanks for being there. The banners were excellent. Perhaps next year (should the state be so kind as to allow us to exercise our democratic right to express our views) we could do something that the mainstream would like more. I know we cannot really rely on them, or maybe even trust them, but still, it would be worth trying.
When the fascists throw fire torches at us, perhaps we could throw flowers at them? With different colours, with the words 'Poland has many colours' stuck to them on pieces of paper. I know we've got a tough battle in convincing the mainstream (and thus winning people to our cause) of our peaceful aims, but this would help, perhaps.
Perhaps we could organise a festival of culture for 11/11/12, with music and poetry from Polish people who represent different cultures: Piotr Dumała, Czesław Miłosz, Chopin, etc.?
