Protesters petition Polish government to combat anti-Ukrainian hate

Protesters in Warsaw have petitioned the government to combat acts of hostility, xenophobia and hate speech in Poland, following a string of attacks on Ukrainians in recent weeks.

The Polish Prime Minister's Office in central Warsaw.

Photo: Adrian Grycuk, CC BY-SA 3.0 PL , via Wikimedia Commons

A rally in solidarity with Ukrainians living in Poland was held in the Polish capital on Friday, with organizers submitting a petition signed by more than 11,000 people calling on the government to take stronger action against xenophobic attacks and verbal and physical violence.

Participants brought white flowers symbolising solidarity, peaceful intentions and historical resistance to violence, state news agency PAP reported.

They placed the flowers beneath specially prepared boards with descriptions of recent incidents and attacks across the country, most of them targeting Ukrainian citizens.

Organizers said the demonstration was a response to what they described as a sharp rise in hate speech and aggression targeting Poland's Ukrainian community.

The petitioners demanded more effective prosecution of hate crimes, action against self-styled vigilante groups, a government programme to combat xenophobia and disinformation, and legal and psychological support for victims of attacks.

The organisers also called for regular training for police and other law enforcement officers, the publication of regular statistics on hate speech, and legislative changes to strengthen protections against discrimination under Poland's criminal law.

Warsaw residents also joined the demonstration, saying they wanted to oppose growing social divisions, the PAP news agency reported.

Friday's protest was the latest in a series of civic initiatives in recent weeks responding to rising anti-Ukrainian and anti-immigrant sentiment, including a demonstration held last Sunday in Warsaw's Castle Square.

The protests follow a series of violent incidents reported across Poland in recent weeks, including an assault on a Ukrainian couple in the southwestern city of Wrocław, a baseball-bat attack in the industrial city of Gliwice and the verbal abuse of Ukrainian teenagers on a bus in Bielsko-Biała, also in the country's south.

Reports by research groups including Res Futura and the University of Warsaw have also pointed to a sharp increase in hate speech on Polish social media earlier this year.

Poland's upper house, the Senate, on Thursday passed a resolution condemning acts of hostility, xenophobia and hate speech in the country, following a string of attacks on Ukrainians in recent weeks.

The resolution, adopted unanimously, says that "everyone, regardless of their background, nationality, language or faith, has the right to respect, safety at work and in education, in an atmosphere free from fear, discrimination and contempt."

It condemns "all manifestations of xenophobia, racism, hate speech and physical violence, especially when the victims are children," adding that there can be "no acceptance of intimidation, exclusion or humiliation of anyone."

📜 Senat jednomyślnie podjął uchwałę z apelem w sprawie przeciwdziałania aktom wrogości w Polsce.

W dokumencie senatorowie przypomnieli, że Polacy zawsze szczycili się swoją otwartością i tolerancją.

„Apelujemy do wszystkich uczestników życia publicznego – kościołów i związków… pic.twitter.com/TVP7yHAUtH

— Senat RP 🇵🇱 (@PolskiSenat) August 6, 2026

Senators called on churches, local and national government bodies, schools, civil society organisations, the media and citizens to "take decisive action" to build mutual respect and counter prejudice.

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Source: PAP