A Voice on Recent Acts of Aggression: Councilors Against Hate

According to councilors from the Civic Platform (PO), the Left, the Greens, and the Razem party, the vandalism at the Art Trafostacja (Art Trafostacja), and the attack on Dagmara Adamiak and councilor Andrzej Radziwinowicz are the result of the narratives prevalent in right-wing media and among right-wing politicians. Szczecin councilors accuse certain groups of spreading hatred towards refugees and minorities.

They expressed their opposition on Thursday (July 17) during a press conference held in front of the Trafostacja building. There, late last week, two perpetrators smashed a window. According to those present at the conference, this was likely because of the rainbow flag – a symbol of the LGBT+ community – hanging outside the door.

"I am horrified by the scale of aggression that has recently been taking place on the streets of Szczecin, but also in the media," said Andrzej Radziwinowicz. "Right-wing politicians are excellent managers, they are excellent at managing fear. Through their activities in the public sphere, the media, and online, they fuel fear, hysteria, and prejudice against everyone and everything that does not fit their definition of Polishness."

The councilor recalled that he had recently experienced many acts of verbal and physical aggression when he was leaving the City Hall hall.

"I wasn't attacked by an ordinary frustrated resident, but by an active political activist, a commentator for Telewizja Republika. I reported it to the police, of course, but the scale of approval from supporters of the anti-migrant narrative, as well as some right-wing politicians, is terrifying, because it will lead to tragedy," Radziwinowicz emphasized. "At some point, some lunatic will harm a politician, a migrant, or someone with a different sexual orientation, simply because they don't think like them, don't share their worldview, or have a different skin tone. And then the right-wing politicians will say, 'It's not us, we don't support this at all.' No! It is, it will be your fault, your grave fault."

At the beginning of her emotional speech, Urszula Pańka recalled the words of Jerzy Turowicz and his eleventh commandment: "Do not be indifferent."

"We cannot remain indifferent to the lies, disinformation, and hate that is engulfing us, the residents of Szczecin, Western Pomerania, and our homeland," she said. She noted that President Andrzej Duda recently pardoned Robert Bąkiewicz, and that former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has claimed that Bundeswehr vehicles are driving around Szczecin.

"As if he didn't know that German and Danish soldiers are at every ceremony in the city, because we have NATO, we live here, we see it. We must focus on showing how people from all over Poland are being manipulated," she emphasized.

She also warned that "the current atmosphere on the right will bring us Kristallnacht and an exit from the European Union, and Poland will become another North Korea."

Piotr Kęsik from OK Polska appealed to everyone not to consent to acts of aggression and hatred, as well as to political witch-hunts.

"It's not true that hordes of people from Africa are here just to come to Poland, settle here, live and reside contrary to our principles and culture. This is nonsense. Fear is a direct line of aggression, which later turns into hatred," he said.

Przemysław Słowik (KO) spoke holding a rainbow flag. He recalled the attacks on councilors and activists and condemned the right wing for fueling these sentiments. He noted that "the act of vandalism committed by 'common bandits' at TRAFO is a result of the current atmosphere that allows for such behavior."

"Stop the hate, the hate speech, because it leads to another tragedy like the one that happened a few years ago in Gdańsk with Mayor Adamowicz," said Przemysław Słowik. "Someone will soon face the cruel consequences of this hate speech, this hate that is being spread. It's important for the state to demonstrate its agency and strength and to punish in an exemplary manner anyone who commits these unlawful actions."

He also announced that he would take all measures to prevent the escalation of hatred in public spaces. The councilor intends to monitor and observe the activities of "far-right groups, including the anti-immigrant protest scheduled for next Saturday at City Hall."

"I would like to remind you that you cannot experience racism, fascism, or Nazism in public spaces with impunity, nor incite hatred based on race, nationality, or ideology. The Penal Code provides for a penalty of up to three years in prison for this. If anyone breaks the law during such an event, incites the aforementioned acts, there are provisions in Article 12 of the Assemblies Act, which allow a municipal representative to dissolve such an assembly. We will be there to monitor and report any such incidents," the councilor warned.

Left activist Bartłomiej Michaliszyn also spoke. He recalled the "effects of ubiquitous hate speech."

"Over seventy percent of the younger generation of teenagers experience online hate. This also gives us adults permission to insult each other. But only forty-four percent of these young people have someone to talk to about it. That's why we all stand here today, appealing to adults – restrain your emotions, restrain this hatred. Where will it end? Will it end in a pogrom or a beating?"

Mikołaj Nowacki from Razem appealed to react when we witness violence directed against other people.

- Only together can we change Poland into a strong and tolerant state - he emphasized.

At the end of the conference, councilors presented Trafostacja director Stanisław Ruksza with two flags: a rainbow flag and the flag of the City of Szczecin. ©℗

Text and photos by Agata Jankowska