On 11 November, about 3,000 people marched through Wrocław carrying Nazi symbols, a former priest, a Palestinian speaker and a horse, sparking controversy.
Event Overview
The march, titled “March of Poles,” took place on Tuesday, 11 November, the National Independence Day, through the streets of Wrocław. Approximately 3,000 participants, including former priest Jacek Międlar, started at 17:00 from the square near the main railway station and moved toward Katedralny Square on Ostrow Tumski.
Extremist Symbols and Slogans
Participants carried banners and signs with slogans such as “Polak w Polsce gospodarzem” (the name of the organising foundation), “Cześć ichwała bohaterom,” “Polska antybanderowska,” “J***ć UPA i Banderę,” and “Razsierpem raz młotem czerwoną hołotę.” Symbols included Celtic crosses, the runic Odal, the Black Sun, and the number 88, all associated with Nazi ideology. References to the 1939 Volhynian massacre and opposition to migration were also present.
Speeches by Former Priest and Palestinian
Former priest Jacek Międlar spoke on the march, declaring, “This is our country, our land, our history. We will do everything to keep Poland Polish, with no colonisation, no Jewish “bodily elements,” and no Ukrainian partisan army.” He shouted, “J***ć UPA i Banderę.”
A Palestinian from Bethlehem thanked Poland for solidarity with the Palestinian people, describing Palestine as the cradle of Christianity and saying its residents are brutally occupied, denied freedom, and murdered. He encouraged the chant “Mordercy.”
Use of Fireworks and a Horse
During the procession, fireworks were launched but later requested to be extinguished; they were then re‑used. Organisers also highlighted a horse they claimed was part of the march, stating, “You know we have a horse with us.”
Counter‑Demonstration at Peace Bridge
Police met a counter‑demonstration at the Bastion of Sakwowe. Participants held signs reading “Stop fascism,” “This is Poland,” and “Stop the trashing of Poland,” with a bin containing Nazi symbols. Counter‑demonstrators shouted slogans such as “Stop fascism” and anti‑immigration calls. In response, marchers shouted hostile words. Police effectively separated the groups, preventing any clashes.
A reporter from Wrocław’s “Wyborcza” recorded a participant’s remark: “Some left‑winger could be drowned; we shouldn’t even rescue him.”