On October 13, 2018, demonstrations were held throughout Europe, including Poland, under the slogan: “Against Nationalisms. For European Solidarity.” Warsaw demonstration was organized by the Citizens’ Committee under the President Lech Wałęsa, the ODNO initiative, the Open Republic association, and by the Congress of Women and Citizens of the Republic of Poland. Irena Wóycicka – vice president of the Open Republic, said: ” We have been trying for 20 years to operate in various fields, to show that the brown wave of hatred, xenophobia, and nationalism was growing, and this was very worrying. We are also worried that the state authorities do not only tolerate extreme parties speaking openly of contempt for other human beings, but also support them. This is very dangerous because in a country where ordinary people do not have protection against hatred on the part of state structures, anarchy is born, and with it, the danger of conflicts, possibly leading to bloodshed. We know this story, we know the history of Europe that was infected with nationalism and at this moment the virus of nationalism is making a comeback. That is why it is so important to remember: nationalism – no,  patriotism – yes. Nationalism breeds contempt for other human beings “.

The demonstration in Poznań was organized by the Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia “Open Republic” and by the Poznań Free of Hate initiative. – I am afraid that I will have to scare you – said a theatre director, co-founder of the Theatre of the Eighth Day, Lech Raczak in Poznań’s Wolności Square. – We feel European in this city and it is with anxiety and pain, that we observe what is happening on our continent. The rise of movements innocently called populist, but whose real name is short and dangerous: fascist.

Cesspits all over the continent overflow with the stench of fascism hovering over Europe. Sometimes we call these odours populism, in order to protect ourselves, to introduce a sense of optimism into the future. This is, however, dangerous. This is fascism. It was said once that history, begins as tragedy and turns into a farce. This is probably what we are witnessing right now. But it is difficult not to fear this farce turning into a tragedy. Fascism needs its myths. It needs its creed. It needs a lie as its everyday language. It is a lie that we know in our country from television and the radio. However, we do have a weapon that we can use next week. This weapon is a voting card, and with this weapon, we will try to stop fascism.