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 government’s move to grant the Independence March...
Poland
V102: Press Conference of “14 Women from the Bridge” – Withdrawal from Counter-Protest, Warsaw, November 10, 2021
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 of long lines at the Medyka crossing were broadcast...
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...
A pre-election rally organized by far-right politician Marián Kotleba and members of his People’s Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) in Žilina escalated into violence on Saturday, July 11, 2015. The event, staged under an anti-immigration banner, drew several hundred participants, including sympathizers from the extremist group VZDOR Kysuce and other regional branches of the Slovak radical right. The gathering was held in Žilina’s city center as part of a series of nationalist demonstrations that...
The Polish-Belarus border has become a focal point of a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, drawing global attention as refugees find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. What started as a political standoff between the European Union (EU) and Belarus has evolved into a dire situation at the border, with vulnerable individuals bearing the brunt of the escalating tensions. The crisis began in 2021 when Belarus, under President Alexander Lukashenko, allegedly encouraged refugees, to cross into...
On 17 May 2014, hundreds of people gathered in central Warsaw for the “Marsz Szmat” (Slut Walk), a public demonstration against sexual violence, victim-blaming, and the social stigma faced by survivors of assault. The march began near the Polish Parliament and moved through the city centre, filling the streets with chants and banners demanding respect for women’s rights and bodily autonomy. Participants carried placards declaring that the responsibility for sexual assault always lies with the...
On March 27, 2024, Kunsthalle Bratislava hosted a poignant farewell event, marking the end of its existence as an independent institution.This closure resulted from a directive by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic to merge Kunsthalle Bratislava with the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), effective April 1, 2024. The decision to dissolve Kunsthalle Bratislava was announced in early 2024. On January 16, 2024, the institution’s director, Jen Kratochvil, resigned following the...
On October 12, 2023, a commemorative gathering was held on Zámocká Street in Bratislava to mark the first anniversary of the terrorist attack outside the LGBTQ+ bar Tepláreň, where Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth tragically lost their lives. The event, titled “Matúš and Juraj, We Will Not Forget,” drew hundreds of attendees who came to honor the victims and show support for the LGBTQ+ community. Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor delivered a speech at the gathering, emphasizing the importance of...
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 July 7, 2012, the annual Budapest Gay Pride Parade took place amidst a backdrop of heightened security measures, as the event drew both passionate supporters and vehement opponents. The parade served as a vibrant celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Hungary while also highlighting the challenges faced by the community in a tense social and political climate. The 2012 Budapest Gay Pride Parade saw thousands of participants take to the streets...
New York, USA, 9.2.2012This Thursday, the Department of Education’s Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) will convene again to determine the fate of 25 schools the city is trying to close down.Since the majority of the panel is appointed by Mayor Bloomberg – and has never voted against his will – this decision will be easy for them. The Panel has never heard or been responsive to voices of real students, parents, teachers, and community members who have already spoken out against their failed...
The first scenes of The Cross (Krzyż) unfold in the aftermath of the 10 April 2010 Smolensk plane crash, which killed President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria, and 94 members of the Polish political and military elite. In the shock that followed, a symbolic wooden cross was erected outside the Presidential Palace on Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw. Intended initially as a temporary memorial, the cross quickly became the centre of a heated national dispute. What began as an improvised shrine...