Anti-immigrant rallies across Poland drew participation from thousands, led by far-right organizations, even as official statistics suggest a decline in illegal immigration. Politicians stoked fears of a migrant influx, while police reported no violence during the demonstrations.
Nationwide Anti-Immigrant Protests Erupt in Poland
Nationwide Anti-Immigrant Protests Erupt in Poland
Thousands gather in multiple Polish cities, driven by far-right rhetoric on migration concerns despite official data showing a decrease in illegal crossings.
Anti-immigration protests erupted in numerous towns and cities throughout Poland this past Saturday, drawing several hundred participants in most locations. However, the largest rally in the southern city of Katowice attracted an estimated 3,000 individuals, according to police sources. These protests were spearheaded by the far-right political faction Konfederacja, along with another nationalist group.
Members of Konfederacja and the opposing Law and Justice party have raised alarms about what they describe as an impending surge of illegal immigration across Poland. Notably, their assertions are contradicted by official immigration statistics. Speaking at a rally in the eastern city of Bialystok, the co-chairman of Konfederacja, Krzysztof Bosak, declared, "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without starting deportation campaigns, without abandoning political correctness... security will gradually deteriorate."
In several gatherings, participants observed a minute of silence to honor a 24-year-old Polish woman who was tragically murdered in the central city of Torun. In Warsaw, separate protests were held in close proximity, yet reports indicated no violent incidents. Following the rallies, a Venezuelan man was arrested in connection with the ongoing murder investigation.
Despite rising political rhetoric, official statistics demonstrate that while immigration levels have fluctuated over the past decade, they remain lower thus far in 2023 compared to previous years. In response to growing tensions surrounding migration, Poland recently enacted stricter border controls with Germany and Lithuania, particularly following Berlin's decision to turn away asylum seekers. Earlier this year, Poland also temporarily halted the asylum application process for migrants entering via the Belarus border.
