Published Monday, November 17, 2008 at 15:34
by
Editor
(627 views and 3 comments)
The annual March of Equality walked through the city of Poznan, capital of the Wielkopolska region.
Approximately three hundred people took part and 350 policemen protected them. But apparently it was not enough.
Right after the conclusion of the demonstration, a few young activists holding banners: ¨Diversity YES, Intolerance No¨ bearing PES were attacked by thugs and hooligans.
Mateusz was severely beaten, just because he was carrying a PES banner. A girl who was accompanying him, Magda, had her arms twisted in order to take the banner away from her. The rest of the staff managed to escape from the attackers.
“Our activists were attacked because they were demonstrating peacefully for tolerance. I am very glad that they were not seriously injured, and my first thoughts are with them. I thank them for their bravery and I wish them a full and fast recovery from their injuries and their undoubted shock”, said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the PES President.
“I also have a message for the cowards who carried out the attack. We will not be intimidated by this violence. Not in Poznan, not anywhere. It will only strengthen our determination to keep making the case for respect for diversity. We will continue to say Diversity YES, Intolerance NO throughout Europe.”
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Comments
1. Re: March of Equality and the harmuful consequences by montymonty7 on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 16:03
First there were all those Italian facebook groups about gipsy calling for violent actions against those people.
Now PES activists were attacked just because they were demonstrating for diversity and against intolerance in Poland.
I am getting really worried...
2. Solidarity by pattheact
on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:45
As I have already told our polish comrades, what we need most now is solidarity between all PES activists. With the attack in Poznan we have all been attacked in a sense because we do all share the same values than those Magda and Mateusz, the two PES activists that have been attacked during the March for Equality, have defended while marching peacefully in the demonstration for more tolerance and diversity in the Polish society.
As you rightly say, in Italy we are facing an intolerable situation with a government criminalising ethnic minorities, whilst forgetting that the main problem in Italy comes from Italian citizens linked to the N'Dranghetta, or other Mafia related groups.
The PES secretariat and the responsible for PES activists should take up the opportunity and try to organise a future PES activists gathering in Poznan in order to show the right wing intolerant and violent part of Polish society that (as PES president Rasmussen has rightly stated) we are not impressed by this violence and we will not be afraid of continuing our common fight for a more tolerant and diverse society, in Poland and everywhere in Europe. This is the only clear reply to this type of physical attack. By the way this physical assaults also show that the intellectual predominance is ours and we need to fight for our ideas and strongly support all comrades that might and will be attacked for defending our common ideas.
The European elections are approaching and we need to show unity in our movement, we need to support the political courage of those who still risk their physical and psychological integrity when defending OUR COMMON ideas and values!!!
3. Dear Polish activists by rikkeindenmark
on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 12:04
I'm also in shock and my thoughts go to PES activist friends in Poland! I'm very sorry to hear about this incident, which only underlines the needs for actions and campaigns for equality and tolerance in Poland and the rest of Europe! Best thoughts from CopenhagenTo be able to post comments you need to be logged in. No account yet? Register here! Lost your password?