On 17 July 2010, Warsaw hosted EuroPride 2010, the first time this major pan-European LGBT pride event took place in a former communist country. The parade, themed “Liberty, Equality, Tolerance”, drew approximately 8 000 participants according to police estimates and progressed through the city centre. At the same time, in the morning hours, the nationalist Marsz Grunwaldzki took place, organised by a right-wing youth group, marking the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald...
The New Nationalism at the Heart of Europe is a large photo and video-art project, in which Tomáš Rafa maps the public manifestations of nationalism, extreme right, racism and lack of tolerance in different countries. Since 2009, the artist documents meetings of radical and revolutionary groups, but also the anti-government and anti-extremist demonstrations, marches and supporting events for the rights of the minorities or clashes of anti-Fascists with supporters of ultra right movements. read more
On February 13th, 2013, more than 10,000 anti-fascist activists formed a human chain in downtown Dresden to protest against neo-Nazi marches on the 68th anniversary of the WWII bombing that destroyed the city. The demonstration marked a symbolic gesture against the right-wing extremist groups. Although thousands of participants formed a human chain, no clashes were reported with the participants of the planned parallel neo-Nazi rally. Approximately 3,000 police had been deployed earlier in the...
On May 1, 2015, in Brno, Czech Republic, around 1,500 to 2,000 individuals gathered to oppose a May Day procession organized by the extremist group “Dělnická mládež” (Worker Youth). The protesters blocked access routes to Malinovského Square while chanting slogans like “Náckové ven z Brna” (Nazis out of Brno). The situation escalated as the police intervened to separate the opposing groups, deploying hundreds of riot officers, mounted police, and even a helicopter...
This video captures the civilian population caught in the middle of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started with the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The conflict has been fueled by a hybrid war, involving not only military operations, but also propaganda, cyber attacks, and the support of separatist movements. Despite several ceasefires, the fighting has continued, and the conflict has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. In 2022, the situation in Ukraine...
Zürich (Switzerland), 15.9.2011.Nach den Ausschreitungen in der Nacht kam es am Samstagnachmittag wieder zu Ausschreitungen in Zürich. Linksautonome versuchten eine Kundgebung von Abtreibungsgegnern zu verhindern. Die Polizei setzte Tränengas ein. Linksautonome hatten dazu aufgerufen, eine Kundgebung christlicher und rechtskonservativer Abtreibungsgegnerinnen und – gegner vom Samstagnachmittag in der Zürcher Innenstadt zu stören.Verletzt wurde niemand, wie ein Polizeisprecher auf Anfrage...
On May 13, 2024, the Pink Whale cultural center, an iconic floating venue on the Danube River in Bratislava, fell victim to a devastating act of arson. Known for its inclusive ethos and role as a hub for progressive and LGBTQ+ cultural activities, the deliberate attack has been widely perceived as an assault on open culture and the values it represents. The Pink Whale has long been a symbol of Bratislava’s commitment to cultural diversity and inclusivity. The venue frequently hosted...
The police intervention at the Gorilla Protest in Bratislava on March 9, one day before the general election, is set to be investigated by the Office of the General Prosecutor after 172 citizens submitted complaints over the matter, the Gorilla Protest Civil Movement announced on Tuesday, April 10. The civil movement claims that the police “were misused against defenceless people” in what it says was an “unlawful and brutal intervention”. The incident took place when...
Czech republic
V78: Antifa blockade of the March of Neo fascists against refugees and Islam in Prague
On February 6, 2016, thousands of people gathered in Prague to protest against refugees and Islam. The demonstration was organized by the anti-immigrant group Block Against Islam, and was attended by far-right groups from across Europe. The protesters, many of whom carried Czech flags and banners with anti-refugee slogans, marched through the city center, stopping at the Czech government headquarters and the Ministry of the Interior to voice their opposition to the country’s immigration...
Far-right protests in Ceske Budejovice against the Roma community turned violent on Saturday, 29 June 2013, resulting in eight people being injured, including two police officers. More than 100 people were detained during the clashes, and police found baseball bats, brass knuckles, gas pistols and other weapons in possession of the demonstrators. Protestors had attempted to reach neighborhoods where the Roma population was prominent, leading to confrontations with the police. Officers used tear...
On 11 November 2013, Warsaw once again witnessed the Marsz Niepodległości (Independence March), one of Europe’s largest far-right gatherings. Under the slogan Idzie nowe pokolenie! (“A new generation is coming!”), the organisers—Młodzież Wszechpolska and ONR—presented the event as the symbolic rise of a renewed nationalist youth. Tens of thousands joined the march, filling the city centre with Polish flags, flares and chants calling for national sovereignty and cultural purity. Although framed...
In late 2013 and early 2014, anti-government protests known as EuroMaidan began in Ukraine, triggered by President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to abandon closer ties with the European Union in favor of Russia. In December 2013, Russia offered Yanukovych a $15 billion bailout and a 33 percent discount on imported natural gas. The protests turned deadly on January 22, 2014, when at least three protesters were killed by gunshot during a police assault on the crowd, and more than 300 were...
The Night Wolves, a Russian biker gang with strong ties to President Vladimir Putin, embarked on a 3,700-mile journey across Europe to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. The group’s controversial route from Moscow to Berlin generated significant attention and led to complications with European authorities. This article examines the Night Wolves’ journey, their encounters with law enforcement, and the public’s reaction to their “victory...