On August 29, 2009, approximately 200 Roma residents of Turzovka, a town in the Kysuce region of Slovakia, left their homes a day before a planned anti-Roma protest by the extremist organization Slovenská Pospolitosť (Slovak Brotherhood). Local residents and the town’s mayor confirmed the exodus, with some Roma unable to fit on buses to Ostrava and resorting to taxis and cars. In anticipation of the protest, dozens of police vehicles and hundreds of officers were dispatched to Turzovka. A...
On April 13, 2019, the city of Gniezno, Poland’s first historical capital and symbolic “Cradle of Poland,” hosted its inaugural Equality March (Marsz Równości). The event marked a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility in one of the country’s traditionally conservative regions. A Bold Move in the Cradle of Poland Organizing the Equality March in Gniezno carried immense symbolic weight. As the seat of Poland’s first Christian diocese and home to the Gniezno Cathedral, the city represents...
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 Góra Monastery and Poland’s Black Madonna...
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 Thursday, August 17th, 2017, police in Poland forcefully removed feminist activists who were participating in a sit-in to block the route of a far-right rally in central Warsaw. The Women’s Strike group and activists from Obywatele RP, who aimed to defend democratic principles in Poland, were attempting to prevent several dozen extremists from marching on Poland’s Armed Forces Day. The feminist protesters, many holding photos of Heather Heyer, the American woman killed during a...
On June 2nd, 2012, Warsaw was the site of the annual Queer Parade, also known as the Equality Parade, for the rights of the LGBTQ community. The event attracted thousands of participants, including members of the LGBTQ community, allies, and supporters. The Queer Parade is an important event in Poland, where LGBTQ individuals often face discrimination and hostility. The organizers of the parade believe that every individual has the right to express their sexuality and gender identity without...
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...
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...
Mühleberg (Switzerland), 4.9.2011. Sie führte 12 Männer und 14 Frauen weg, die beim Wasserkraftwerk die Strasse Richtung AKW versperrt hatten. Die Teilnehmenden leisteten beim Polizei-Einsatz nach übereinstimmenden Berichten von Aktivisten und Polizei keinen Widerstand. Die Aktivisten wurden nach einer Befragung wieder auf freien Fuss gesetzt. Sie werden verzeigt wegen Störung des öffentlichen Verkehrs, Ungehorsams gegen eine amtliche Verfügung und wegen Störung von Betrieben, die der...
On April 29, 2017, the far-right nationalist group Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny (ONR, or National Radical Camp) held a controversial march in Warsaw, Poland. The event marked the anniversary of the ONR’s founding in the 1930s, an era when the group was known for its xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and ultra-nationalist agenda. The march was met with widespread criticism from human rights organizations, left-wing activists, and civic groups. Opponents accused the ONR of promoting hate speech and extremist...
On June 9, 2012, Bratislava celebrated its third annual Dúhový (Rainbow) Pride parade. Members of the international community expressed their moral and practical support for the parade organizers and participants. The event aimed to raise awareness of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in the Slovak Republic and promote their human rights. As citizens of the European Union, the LGBT community in Slovakia enjoys legal guarantees under the Charter of Fundamental Rights...
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...