Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, was the site of historical first Pride Parade for the rights of LGBTQ individuals on May 22, 2010. The event was marred by violent clashes with members of the far-right extremist group, the Slovak Solidarity, who threw stones and tear gas grenades at the participants of the parade. Many of the LGBTQ individuals suffered injuries in these confrontations. The march, which began at Hviezdoslav Square in the city center, had to be rerouted to the other side...
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
Prague, Czech republic, 15.3.2012 In a wave of public discontent, citizens across Czech cities, including Prague and Brno, have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the current government. The demonstrations, organized by grassroots movements, spotlight concerns about corruption, economic inequality, and environmental policies. These diverse protesters, united by their shared frustration, demand a more responsive and accountable political system. While government officials...
On June 20, 2015, thousands of people, primarily young individuals, gathered in Bratislava to protest against the inflow of refugees into the European Union. The demonstration was the first of its kind in Slovakia since the beginning of the migration crisis and was organized under the motto “Stop Islamisation of Europe.” Ultra-right radical Marian Kotleba, a governor of one of Slovakia’s self-rule regions, addressed the crowd. Following the official part of the protest, the...
New York, USA, 11.2.2012. On February 11th Occupy Town Square at the West Park Presbyterian Church on west 86th St brought together activists young and old, seasoned veterans and newcomers, Marxists, anarchists, socialists, bloggers, screen-printers, dreamers, and me. Walking in I found myself unexpectedly incredibly moved by the atmosphere of camaraderie and, dare I say it, family. It felt so good to be together again in solidarity, occupying the same space, with my brothers and sisters in...
01.05.2017 Brno residents are not planning to block the 1 May march by the ultra-right convened by the Workers’ Youth this year. Instead, they are calling on people through Facebook to organize creative, entertaining, non-violent activities in the city center on 1 May under the slogan “You can’t salute the Nazis if you’re having a good time” (“Kdo si hraje, nehajluje”). In recent years, 1 May in Brno has repeatedly become a scene of neo-Nazi provocation...
LGBTIQA+, Slovakia
V97: After the fire in the building of the cultural center Stanica Žilina Záriečie
On September 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the iconic Stanica Žilina-Záriečie, a renowned cultural center located in the Záriečie district of Žilina, Slovakia. Known for its innovative programming and contributions to the cultural landscape, the venue suffered significant damage, leaving the local community and Slovakia’s cultural scene in mourning. Incident Overview The fire started in the early hours of the morning, engulfing parts of the building and causing extensive damage to the...
On October 3, 2016, Warsaw became one of the central stages of the nationwide Czarny Protest/Strajk kobiet (Black Protest), known as “Black Monday.” Tens of thousands of women and their allies took to the streets dressed in black, protesting against a proposed near-total abortion ban in Poland. The demonstration quickly grew into a symbol of resistance against government policies, with chants such as “My uterus, my business” and “PiS will not pass.” The protest was met by pro-life activists...
On August 20th, 2018, far-right groups in the Czech Republic organized a protest in Dubí, a small town near the border with Germany. The protest was in response to a recent incident at a local swimming pool between two women. The far-right groups, including the far-right political party DSSS, used the incident as a rallying cry against what they saw as an increase in crime and violence perpetrated by immigrants and minorities. They claimed that the incident at the swimming pool was evidence of...
On June 22, 2013, supporters of the radical Workers’ Party of Social Justice (DSSS) gathered at the Légií Square on the outskirts of the Roma quarter in Duchcov, Czech Republic. Shortly after the DSSS leader’s speech, the protesters clashed with police when they attempted to break through a police cordon to reach a group of Roma residents. At the same time, the civil association Konexie organized a public gathering called “Čikhatar het/Z bahna von” to support the Duchcov...
On 30 March 2012, thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland for a large protest organised by the trade union NSZZ Solidarność. The demonstration was a response to the government’s plan to raise the retirement age to 67, which the union opposed as socially unjust and harmful to workers. The rally brought together members of Solidarność from across the country, along with representatives of other labour and civic organisations. The protest also received...
On August 7, 2010, around 100 supporters of the People’s Party – Our Slovakia gathered at Hodžovo Square in Bratislava to participate in the “National Pilgrimage to the Statue of King Svätopluk.” The participants marched from the meeting point through Palisády towards Bratislava Castle, where the statue of Svätopluk is located. According to the march organizer, Marián Mišún, the pilgrimage is intended to honor history and the symbol of Slovakia – the double cross and Svätopluk...
On 25 March 2025, Erik Ždiľa, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, presented his work Hymna (Anthem) in front of the Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava. The work was a sound installation in which a compressed-air compressor played the Slovak national anthem on a set of beer bottles. The work was presented in front of the Slovak National Gallery as part of the relay protest Art Will Not Be Silent! The relay protest took place in front of the Slovak National Gallery...