During last Saturday’s anti-migrant protests organised by the far-right Confederation party in 80 Polish cities, the number of police officers securing the events often far exceeded the number of actual participants.
BBC: Few participants in far-right protests
According to the BBC, anti-immigration protests in dozens of towns and cities across Poland attracted several thousand people on Saturday. Police estimated that about 3,000 took part in the largest rally in the southern city of Katowice, the broadcaster reported, noting that there were no reports of violence.
The BBC also reported that a minute’s silence was observed at some gatherings in memory of a 24-year-old Polish woman murdered in the north-central city of Toruń, and although Polish police have since arrested a Venezuelan man in connection with the case, right-wing politicians claim Poland is in danger of being flooded by illegal migrants.
Poles pick holidays over far-right protests, Die Tageszeitung reports
“The entire affair was nothing more than a well-staged party demonstration. Across the country, only a few thousand people gathered - mostly shirtless, muscular men shouting ‘This is Poland!’” wrote Die Tageszeitung.
“The reason is quite simple: people are on holiday. Although a few counter-protests ‘against the fascists’ were held, they too wrapped up within an hour, with everyone calmly returning to the beach or heading home for lunch,” the newspaper added.
Euronews highlights widespread counter-protests across Polish cities
Counter-demonstrations against the Confederation marches were held in Warsaw, Katowice, Olsztyn and other cities on Saturday. Demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as "Accept the refugees, delete the fascists," "Action Democracy," and "We defend the right to asylum," Euronews.com reported.
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Source: BBC/taz.de/euronews.com