On September 6, 2023, Matica slovenská, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving Slovak heritage, organized a protest outside the P. O. Hviezdoslav Theater (DPOH) in Bratislava. The demonstration arose from outrage over a promotional poster created for the theater’s 2023/2024 season, which featured controversial imagery deemed disrespectful to Slovak national identity and cultural heritage. The Poster That Sparked the Controversy The promotional artwork depicted a group of young...
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
LGBTIQA+, Slovakia
V91: Protest of Matica Slovenská against the poster of the P.O. Hviezdoslav Theater
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...
Berlin Wedding, Germany, 30th April 2012 7,000 police officers were deployed on Monday and Tuesday to keep the demonstrations under control. Traditionally, the violent “anticapitalist Walpurgis Night demo” has passed through Friedrichshain and Prenzlauer Berg. This time, it was unexpectedly relocated to the Sprengelkiez and Brüsseler Kiez in Wedding, an area between the Wedding S-Bahn station, the northern shore of the Berlin-Spandauer Shipping Canal, and See- and Müllerstraße. This...
On November 11th, 2014, Poland celebrated its Independence Day, but the day was marred by violence during the Marsz Niepodleglosci (March of Independence) organized by far-right groups. Tens of thousands of participants marched through the streets of Warsaw to mark the anniversary of Polish independence, but a group of several hundred masked men broke away from the main march and threw stones and flares at lines of riot police. The police responded by using water cannons and rubber bullets to...
On November 10, 2024, the monthly Smolensk remembrance ceremony once again took place in Warsaw. Attention focused on the controversial stairs erected near the Smolensk monument, which activists described as illegal and a symbol of political manipulation. The activists reminded that the stairs were built without proper authorization from the City of Warsaw and remain subject to a court order for removal. They declared that dismantling the structure would mark “the end of the Smolensk lie,”...
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 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...
Vienna, June 11, 2016 – A far-right Identitarian movement staged a high-profile protest in the heart of Vienna, igniting fervent discussions about their ideology and raising concerns about the rise of nationalist sentiments in Europe. The demonstration, held under the banner of “Defending Europe,” attracted both supporters and critics, prompting a closer examination of the movement’s objectives and the implications for the broader political landscape. The Identitarian...
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...
On July 20th, 2019, a Pride parade in the city of Bialystok, Poland turned violent when far-right groups clashed with LGBTQ activists. However, as the parade began, counter-protesters began to hurl insults and objects at the marchers, including rocks, bottles, and firecrackers. Some counter-protesters even attempted to break through police barriers to physically attack the parade participants. The violence continued to escalate throughout the day, with police using tear gas and water cannons to...
On March 16, 2013, around 200 people gathered at SNP Square in Bratislava to block the path of far-right extremists marching to the grave of Jozef Tiso. The blockade was personally supported by the city’s mayor, Milan Ftáčnik, who led the procession waiting for the arrival of the neo-Nazis. The office announced the blockade at the mayor’s request the day before the event. Ftáčnik emphasized the importance of expressing opposition to the far-right in a lawful and peaceful manner, so...
Czech republic, Racism
V61: March of far-rights (Polish and Czech hooligans) against Roma people in Ostrava
During the summer of 2013, the Czech Republic saw a wave of far-right rallies against the Roma people. These rallies were sparked by a violent incident at a swimming pool in the town of Dubí, where a group of Roma individuals allegedly attacked a non-Roma woman who had confronted a young Roma boy for splashing water. The incident was widely reported in the media and quickly became a topic of debate in Czech society. On June 24th, 2013, anti-Roma demonstrators gathered in several cities across...