Nationalist demonstration marking Poland’s Independence Day

Further information:

Police estimated around 60,000 people took part in the demonstration, many of them carrying flags and banners containing xenophobic and racist symbols and messages. Supporters of the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party also joined the event.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda later condemned expressions of xenophobia and racism at the march. The country's foreign minister stated that international reactions to the event had been exaggerated. A spokesperson for the Warsaw prosecutors office announce on 20 November that an investigation had been launched into the 'public propagation of fascism and calls for hatred' during the march.

The march was organised by far-right groups in Poland, which has become an annual event to mark the country's independence in 1918. Since their inception in 2009, most Independence Day marches descended into violent standoffs with the police and far-left groups.

Reports and commentary features on a nationalist demonstration held in Poland to mark the country's Independence Day on 11 November 2017.

ECFR: Commentary, 17.11.17: Poland: What went wrong? http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_poland_what_went_wrong

Politico, 12-14.11.17: White nationalists call for ethnic purity at Polish demonstration https://www.politico.eu/article/white-nationalists-call-for-ethnic-purity-at-polish-independence-day-march/

The Guardian, 12.11.17: ‘White Europe’: 60,000 nationalists march on Poland’s independence day https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/12/white-europe-60000-nationalists-march-on-polands-independence-day

The Guardian, 13.11.17: Polish president condemns far-right scenes at Independence Day march https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/polish-president-condemns-far-right-scenes-at-independence-day-march

The Guardian, 18.11.17: 'More girls, fewer skinheads': Poland's far right wrestles with changing image https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/more-girls-fewer-skinheads-polands-far-right-wrestles-with-changing-image

Carnegie Europe: [Commentary] The West Matters to Poland http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-west-matters-to-poland/

BBC News, 11.11.17: Warsaw nationalist march draws tens of thousands http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41958199

Radio Poland, 14.11.17: Polish Senate Speaker calls remark by ex Hillary Clinton aide ‘brazen lie’ http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/334987

The New York Times, 14.11.17: [Editorial] Torches and Hate on the March in Poland https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/opinion/torches-hate-march-poland.html

Deutsche Welle, 21.11.17: Prosecutors open racism probe into Polish far-right march http://p.dw.com/p/2nxYs

RT, 16.11.17: Western MSM ‘shocked’ at 60,000-strong nationalist march in Warsaw – but are they really? https://www.rt.com/news/410073-nationalist-march-warsaw-media/

Radio Poland, 16.11.17: Reactions abroad to Polish Independence Day march ‘exaggerated’: FM http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/335324

The New York Times, 16.11.17: [Opinion] Poles Cry for ‘Pure Blood’ Again https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/opinion/poland-pure-blood-march.html

Politico, 28.11.17: [Opinion] Poland: Authoritarian, not patriotic https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-far-right-fascist-not-patriotic/

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