The Medyka-Shehyni border crossing has become emblematic of the humanitarian and racial complexities that emerged in the early days of the war in Ukraine. While Poland opened its borders to millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion in February 2022, the initial wave of solidarity revealed underlying racial biases and inequities in the treatment of refugees. The Humanitarian Divide During the first days of the conflict, images...
Author - Rafavideoart
Filmmaker, visual artist, and photographer Rafavideoart studied at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Since 2009, he has been documenting the growing nationalism and far-right groups within the Visegrád Group countries. In Slovakia, he is actively involved in transforming the segregation walls surrounding the Roma communities.
Filmár, vizuálny umelec a fotograf Rafavideoart študoval na Akadémii umení v Banskej Bystrici a na Akadémii výtvarných umení vo Varšave. Od roku 2009 dokumentuje rastúci nacionalizmus a ultrapravicové skupiny v priestore Vyšehradskej štvorky. Na Slovensku sa angažuje v pretváraní segregačných múrov ohraničujúcich rómskej komunity.
Poland
V102: Press Conference of “14 Women from the Bridge” – Withdrawal from Counter-Protest, Warsaw, November 10, 2021
On November 10, 2021, in front of the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, the civic group known as “14 Women from the Bridge” held a press conference. The women, who in earlier years had stood on the Poniatowski Bridge to block the annual Independence March, announced that they would withdraw from their planned counter-demonstration scheduled for November 11 at Rondo Praw Kobiet (formerly Rondo Dmowskiego). The decision followed the...
On October 18, 2021, hundreds of people gathered in front of the National Council in Bratislava to defend women’s reproductive rights. The demonstration, held under the slogan “Nebudeme ticho” (We Will Not Be Silent), responded to a new parliamentary proposal that sought to restrict access to abortion and impose additional barriers on women seeking reproductive healthcare. Organized by feminist and human rights initiatives, the event brought...
On 10 September 2021, during the 137th monthly commemoration of the Smolensk air disaster, activists from Lotna Brygada Opozycji (LBO) carried out a peaceful artistic intervention on Piłsudski Square in Warsaw. Next to the Pomnik Ofiar Tragedii Smoleńskiej (Monument to the Victims of the Smolensk Tragedy), they assembled a temporary structure made of cardboard boxes, referred to as the “Cardboard Stairs.” The installation, built from around...
On September 9, 2021, members of Młodzieżowy Strajk Klimatyczny (Youth Climate Strike) staged an occupy protest in front of the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Warsaw. The demonstration demanded urgent government action to address the climate crisis. Protesters gathered with banners reading “Nie ma planety B” (There is no Planet B) and “Działajcie teraz!” (Act Now!), calling for an end to subsidies for fossil...
On November 28, 2020, activists of the Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet (All-Poland Women’s Strike) unveiled a symbolic plaque renaming Rondo Dmowskiego in central Warsaw as Rondo Kobiet (Women’s Roundabout). The action came in the midst of nationwide protests sparked by the tightening of Poland’s abortion law and symbolized both resistance to patriarchal politics and the reclaiming of public space. The plaque, placed at one of Warsaw’s busiest...
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...
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...
On June 16, 2019, the Polish city of Częstochowa hosted its annual Equality March (Marsz Równości), a vibrant event advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. Held under the slogan “Love Without Borders,” the march brought together a diverse crowd of supporters, marking a significant moment for LGBTQ+ visibility and equality in a deeply traditional region. A Bold Statement in a Symbolic City Częstochowa, home to the revered Jasna...
On April 29, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic rejected a motion filed by the General Prosecutor to dissolve Marián Kotleba’s far-right political party, Ľudová strana Naše Slovensko (ĽSNS). The court ruled that the proposal did not meet the strict conditions required for such a measure, stating that the evidence failed to prove the party posed an immediate threat to the democratic order. The judges emphasized that dissolving a...