Several hundred people marched on Saturday through the streets of Bialystok on the march “Bialystok free of hatred.” It was a – as they say the organizers of action – opposition to acts of racism and xenophobia, which have occurred previously in this city.
The march was organized by the Coalition “Bialystok free from hatred,” which consists of people from various backgrounds including scientific, artistic and non-governmental organizations. It had a character apolitical, participants were asked to not to bring with them flags, banners or slogans.
The event started in the main square in the city, the Market Kosciuszko. As she spoke to journalists initiator of action, sociologist Dr. Catherine Sztop-Rutkowska from the University of Bialystok, the idea was to loudly demonstrate that Białystok is a city of “tolerance and openness.” She said it was an opportunity to show that there is no consensus hate speech in public areas. She gave the example of nationalist marches, which a few months ago were held in Bialystok.
In the course of the march read a manifesto, in which initiators wrote that “for a long time in Bialystok comes to acts of racism, xenophobia and intolerance and providing public demonstrations of hatred and exclusion.” The manifesto expressing their opposition to such actions. “In our city there is no place for hatred of the Other. Each of us is different, we are all equal! There’s our permission to exclude, use of violence, trampling human dignity, there is no consent to our destructive extremism!” – Says further manifesto.
As said one of the organizers of Anna Żebrowska, xenophobia is not only writing the passwords on the internet, shouting them during the demonstration, but “above all violence, blood on the streets, people are beaten, set on fire to the apartment.” She added that the manifestation is an opportunity to show that “Białystok is the people who are open, open to otherness, open it to everyone who comes to this city, he felt in this place free and safe.”
She also representative of the Armenian minority Anush Antonyan, which for several years living in Bialystok. She said that the city “close to her heart”; also thanked all the people for their support since the beginning.
The march ended at the square in front of Dramatic Theatre, where the participants standing next to each other formed the shape of an open hand, a symbol of action. Sztop-Rutkowska said that on the one hand, the hand is to show that “we are open to dialogue, we have a frank and open intentions.” She added that the open hand is also a stop sign. “It is said that there are certain limits of consent, that words of hate, often, as history shows, lead to acts of hatred and violence” – she added.
For the end everyone could sign the manifesto, which – as the organizers – will be handed over to the authorities of Bialystok.
Recently, the police have not recorded serious acts of a racist. However, a few years ago in Bialystok there has been a series of racist and xenophobic incidents, including when torched apartment marriage Polish-Indian and Chechen families. In recent times, wide coverage in Poland rebounded organized in this city celebration of 82 anniversary of the ONR.
Bialystok District Prosecutor-South is investigating these celebrations. Checks whether there was time to propagate fascism or insult against nationality or religion. As told PAP the head of the prosecutor’s office Wojciech Zalesko, the police are still collecting evidence, primarily acquainted with the recordings and interviewing witnesses.
The main point of the march, which was one of the points of the celebration of the ONR. According to police estimates, was attended by approx. 400 people, there were no incidents. The march was preceded by Holy Mass. Bialystok Cathedral in the evening ONR activists organized a concert of promoting the fascist and racist content, including renting the student club Bialystok Technical University. (PAP)
swi / rof / as /
No comments:
Post a Comment