We publish the commentary by Damian Wutke – secretary of the Management Board of the Open Republic Association on today’s ONR march.

On 29 April, 2017 a march commemorating the 83rd anniversary of the establishment of the Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny [National Radical Camp] took place in Warsaw. Nationalists, anti-Semites, xenophobes and homophobes, full of hatred on which they found the illusionary sense of their own superiority, marched from Dmowski Roundabout to Castle Square.

The decision granting consent for nationalists’ march through Warsaw was issued by President Hanna Gronkiewicz–Waltz, and the municipal authority explained this fact by peaceful intents of the organizers. The march was only supposed to promote national values, but one does not have to be a clairvoyant to know what slogans and views ONR promotes. Especially that the organizers said that this event would be stronger than the last year anniversary of ONR, which was celebrated in Białystok.

The decision of the President still evokes my strong emotions. It is strange that such a decision was issued by a person, who talks a lot about Warsaw of two uprisings, patriotism and the need to remember. Nationalists have nothing in common with patriotism, even if they would like to have. Xenophobia or nationalism is not equivalent to patriotism. Your consent is even more surprising in view of the fact that in September 2016 a group of Civic Platform deputies (Nitras, Pomaska, Olszewski, Tomczyk) filed a motion regarding delegalization of ONR.

During the demonstration we heard many slogans full of hatred, contempt for other people, xenophobia and nationalism. The presence of slogans such as: „We don’t want Islam here, the terrorists and Muslims”, „Work in Poland for Poles”, „Death to the enemies of our homeland”, „Not rainbow, not red, but nationalist Poland”, „We’ll find a stick for leftist snout” – in public space is also the fault of President Hanna Gronkiewicz – Waltz. Issuing consent for this march has a symbolic meaning – you showed that the state authorities permit promotion of such slogans, and not only the central state authorities, which accept such views, but they have also your permission – I would never think that about you. I am aware that your possible decision refusing the consent for the march would be waived by the governor, but this is not a valid argument. You are the President of Polish capitol, which is the symbol of fight for human dignity and freedom. Your obligation is – even knowing that you will fail – not to give consent and protest against such events.

Unfortunately, I have to state that you are also responsible for hatred in Polish public space. Marek Edelman said that “one has to counteract evil, because even the smallest evil may grow”. You did not counteract it, but allowed it to grow.