Those protesting in the Polish capital Warsaw held up traffic in the city as they marched along Marszałkowska street, one of the main thoroughfares of the city centre, on early Sunday afternoon.
Then, they headed down the Wisłostrada, one of the capital’s busiest and most important arteries, eventually making their way up to the vicinity of Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński’s house.
Protesters in Warsaw are holding placards that read "Fight like a girl" (on the left) and "You will never walk alone" (on the right), December 13, 2020.
Police had set up blockades to prevent protesters from marching to Żoliborz, the district where Kaczyński’s house is located, but the efforts proved futile.
Heavily armed police officers have also cordoned off Kaczyński’s villa.
Some protesters were holding banners with slogans "Abo [abortion ed.] yes!" and "Leave women alone," while others were carrying national white-and-red, rainbow and EU flags.
The demonstration in Warsaw was organized by the Women’s Strike, a group of female activists, and the Entrepreneurs’ Strike, an organization bringing together business owners, under the slogan "We are going for freedom, we are going for everything."
In the Polish capital, they have been joined by other groups, including farmers and highlanders (Gorals), who have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with government policies and its COVID-19 response.
Demonstrations have also taken place in the north-eastern city of Olsztyn, in the central city of Łódź, in the north-central city of Toruń and Lublin in the east.
A ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal which heralded a near-total ban on abortion in Poland, triggered nationwide protests after it was announced on October 22.
The ruling stated that it was unconstitutional to abort a foetus if it has congenital defects.
Ever since, anti-government rallies have been held in cities and towns across the country, in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings.
Source: PAP
(ał)