Series of Racist Incidents in Area of Podlasie
Timeline
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Anti-Lithuanian incidents in Punsk
On 22 August, about 30 signs with Lithuanian village names were painted over or destroyed in the commune of Punsk. Moreover, a monument in the Lithuanian open-air museum was damaged – the name and symbol of Falanga (nationalist organization formed in 1935) appeared on the monument. Punsk is inhabited mainly by the Lithuanian minority – over 80% of the village’s population is Lithuanian. Source: TVN Kontakt 24 http://kontakt24.tvn.pl/temat,szukaja-sprawc...
Arson attack on mix couple`s flat
On the night between 22 and 23 August in Bialystok, the apartment door of a Polish-Pakistani married couple was set on fire. According to media reports, this couple earlier met with persecution from young neighbours, who threw stones at the Pakistani man, called him a “nigger” and his wife a betrayer of Poland and her race. Source: Gazeta.pl http://bialystok.gazeta.pl/bialystok/1,35241,10162840,Za_zdrade_bialej_rasy__Rasistowski_atak_w_Bialymstoku.html
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Desecration in Jedwabne
On 31 August, anti-Semitic graffiti, swastikas and SS symbols appeared on the monument commemorating the massacre of the Jews in the town of Jedwabne. In July 1941, about 340 Polish Jews were murdered or burned alive by Jedwabne’s Polish inhabitants with the participation of Nazi German Ordungpolizei. Source: Wyborcza.pl http://wyborcza.pl/8,75402,10218279.html Source: Gazeta.pl http://bialystok.gazeta.pl/bialystok/1,35241,10214967,Zmyto_nienawisc_w_Jedwabnem__WIDEO...
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Unity March in Bialystok
In response to the incidents which took place in the Podlasie area in August 2011, on 4 September, a Unity March was held in protest against racism and xenophobia in Bialystok. The protest was organized at the initiative of two MPs from the region, the Deputy President of Bialystok, and a group called “Proud Białystok” (dumny Białystok). Many people, including leftist politicians, local government politicians, representatives of NGOs and national minorities took part in this event. The &ld...
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How to stop racism?
In response to the racist and xenophobic incidents which took place in area of Podlasie in August 2011, as well as these which occur on the football stadiums, the Human Rights Defender organised a press conference titled “How to stop racism”. During the conference HRD called for putting emphasis on intercultural training for students, as well as for public officials and servants. Moreover, the HRD send a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the possibility to include anti-racism e...
Several racist and xenophobic incidents occurred in August 2011 in area of Białystok. Nazi slogans and symbols were painted on the wall of a synagogue in Orla and Krynki. On 20 August the Muslim Cultural Centre in Bialystok was vandalised and set on fire. On 22 August Lithuanian village names were painted over in the commune of Punsk. On 31 August anti-Semitic graffiti, swastikas and SS symbols appeared on the monument commemorating the massacre of the Jews in Jedwabne. On the night between 22 and 23 August in Bialystok, the apartment door of a Polish-Pakistani married couple was set on fire. According to media reports, this couple earlier met with persecution from young neighbours, who threw stones at the Pakistani man, called him a “nigger” and his wife a betrayer of Poland and her race.
In response the Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned the desecration of the Jedwabne monument as well as other acts of hostility and vandalism directed against ethnic minorities. The Human Rights Defender organised a press conference titled “How to stop racism” and send a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the possibility to include anti-racism education in the school curriculum. Moreover, a Unity March was organized in protest against racism and xenophobia in Bialystok.
This was not the first wave of racist incidents in Białystok area. In the years 2008 and 2009, a number of foreigners living in Bialystok were attacked; some acts of racialy motivated vandalism were also observed.
Source: Gazeta.pl http://bialystok.gazeta.pl/bialystok/1,35241,10162840,Za_zdrade_bialej_rasy__Rasistowski_atak_w_Bialymstoku.html
Source: Ministry of Foreing Affairs http://www.mfa.gov.pl/Minister,Radoslaw,Sikorski,condemns,the,desecration,of,the,Jedwabne,monument,45135.html
Soure: Human Rights Defender http://www.sprawy-generalne.brpo.gov.pl/szczegoly.php?pismo=1595165
