University authorities demand actions to stop racist attacks
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The rector and students of Collegium Civitas, a private university in Warsaw, penned an open letter to Warsaw authorities and police in connection with yet another assault on one of that institution’s black students. The authors expressed their solidarity with victims of racism and called on authorities to effectively prevent and prosecute such crimes. In particular, authors suggested opening a 24-hour hotline at the Warsaw Police Headquarters manned by an appropriately trained and English-speaking officer to enable individuals who do not speak Polish to report incidents without additional barriers. They further demanded increased police monitoring in locations with greater concentrations of foreigners and for city officials to begin information/education activities against racist aggression and those promoting greater friendliness and hospitable attitudes towards foreigners in Warsaw. Nearly 2,000 people signed the open letter, which was also backed by the Conference of Warsaw Universities Rectors. The chair of the Warsaw City Council expressed her support for the proposal, though she did not announce any specific activities the city could take in this respect. Meanwhile, the Warsaw Police Headquarters informed it had sent racist assault procedural instructions to municipal monitoring centres where racist assaults may take place (school dormitories, hostels). The Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection also reacted to the letter by inviting Collegium Civitas representatives, including over a dozen students from Africa.
Source: Collegium Civitas http://www.civitas.edu.pl/aktualnosc_pl&cmn_id=1650?ph_aktualnosci_start=show
