Torun: street happening against homophobia faced with massive agression
30/05/2006
By
KPH Torun
A happening "Homophobia Clinic" promoting tolerance, organised by local branch of Campaign Against Homphobia, was to take place in Torun, the capital of Kuyavia-Pomerania region, on 17th of May 2006.
Few days earlier, as calls for violent action against the happening were observed on fascist websites, it became obvious the disturbance of the event is inevitible.
On the day of the event, 15 gay rights activists, who gathered at the Copernicus Statue were faced with vast crowd of over 60 followers of fascist, xenophobic and anti-gay organisation Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski (National Rebirth of Poland).
At two o'clock the happening begun. Activists started distributing pamphlets (were it was possible) and spreading information using a megaphone. The NOP followers, all of them young men, dressed to the same code, shouted out their slogans synchronically, making themselves heard all over the historical Old Market Square, being much louder than a megaphone. Their slogans were for example:
- 'pedaly do gazu' ('gas the queers') - clearly referring to the nazis' crimes conducted in concentration camps
- 'znajdzie sie kij na pedalski ryj' ('your queer faces will be bashed')
- 'chodzcie blizej!' ('come closer!') - in this context - clear threats
Police seperated the two sides. Most of the conterdemonstrators had their faces covered with scarves and football-club emblems, and their heads kept away from eyesight in 'hoodies'. However the law forbids demonstrators to hide their faces, the law enforcement officers have not caused the law-breakers to remove their scarves.
Fifteen minutes later, the gay activists were joined by another demonstrators, around 150 university students marching against the new Education Minister, selfconfessed nationalist and xenophob. Later on, students together with gay rights activists marched side by side to the Kuratorium Oswiaty (Local Education Office), calling for tolerance and an end to fascism. At that last stop, NOP followers went to attack. Some peacefully demonstrating people were kicked and hit. The Police reacted and arrested four most agressive men, who were released few hours later without charges. Thankfully no serious injures were reported.
Agressive behaviour, and slogans of the demonstrating fascist youth have not been condemned by any officials, either on local nor on the national level.
Few days earlier, as calls for violent action against the happening were observed on fascist websites, it became obvious the disturbance of the event is inevitible.
On the day of the event, 15 gay rights activists, who gathered at the Copernicus Statue were faced with vast crowd of over 60 followers of fascist, xenophobic and anti-gay organisation Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski (National Rebirth of Poland).
At two o'clock the happening begun. Activists started distributing pamphlets (were it was possible) and spreading information using a megaphone. The NOP followers, all of them young men, dressed to the same code, shouted out their slogans synchronically, making themselves heard all over the historical Old Market Square, being much louder than a megaphone. Their slogans were for example:
- 'pedaly do gazu' ('gas the queers') - clearly referring to the nazis' crimes conducted in concentration camps
- 'znajdzie sie kij na pedalski ryj' ('your queer faces will be bashed')
- 'chodzcie blizej!' ('come closer!') - in this context - clear threats
Police seperated the two sides. Most of the conterdemonstrators had their faces covered with scarves and football-club emblems, and their heads kept away from eyesight in 'hoodies'. However the law forbids demonstrators to hide their faces, the law enforcement officers have not caused the law-breakers to remove their scarves.
Fifteen minutes later, the gay activists were joined by another demonstrators, around 150 university students marching against the new Education Minister, selfconfessed nationalist and xenophob. Later on, students together with gay rights activists marched side by side to the Kuratorium Oswiaty (Local Education Office), calling for tolerance and an end to fascism. At that last stop, NOP followers went to attack. Some peacefully demonstrating people were kicked and hit. The Police reacted and arrested four most agressive men, who were released few hours later without charges. Thankfully no serious injures were reported.
Agressive behaviour, and slogans of the demonstrating fascist youth have not been condemned by any officials, either on local nor on the national level.
