Police clash with anti-lockdown protesters in Warsaw on first day of new restrictions

Police today deployed tear gas and used force against anti-lockdown protesters in Warsaw, at a march held on the day that new coronavirus restrictions went into force across Poland.

The event was titled “International March of Freedom”, and took place alongside other similar protests around the world. It drew a crowd of thousands, reports RMF24.

Among them were two of the leaders of the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) party, as well as Poland’s most prominent anti-vaccine activist, who all addressed the crowd from a stage.

The organisers said that their aim was to express opposition to the “global political and financial forces” that are using the pandemic as a means of “generating panic and fear” in order to introduce “unlawful and scientifically unjustified restrictions” that “restrict civil rights” and “build a totalitarian state”.

They also claim that coronavirus measures are unnecessarily “destroying companies and the economy”. Such protests first emerged during the tougher full lockdown in spring, beginning with demands for support from business owners but evolving into much broader demonstrations.

Despite the removal of most restrictions by the summer, regular protests have continued, with many participants claiming that COVID-19 is a “plandemic” being exploited to control society.

The organisers of today’s event admitted that it would likely face police action due to not complying with government restrictions limiting the size of public gatherings. Images from the protest show that participants also did not cover their mouths and noses, as is currently required in outdoor public areas.

Protesters held up signs saying “End the Plandemic. Enough Lies” and “Covid: Fake News”. One man wore a board reading: “Out of ‘care’ for our health, you want to destroy our lives?”

Many carried banners criticising the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, with one saying that its leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, is the real virus.

Among the maskless attendees were Janusz Korwin-Mikke and Grzegorz Braun, two of Confederation’s leaders. The party’s MPs have often refused to wear masks in parliament, and Braun has been a regular figure at protests against coronavirus restrictions.

Both politicians addressed the crowd from a platform, although Korwin-Mikke’s “speech was made more difficult by him having a cough”, reports Gazeta Wyborcza.

Speaking at a previous protest in August, Braun compared the compulsory wearing of masks to the way that Jews were forced to wear armbands by the Nazis, which he noted was the first step on the way to ghettoisation and then death.

“Masks are not the final goal; they are [a form of] training” for something else, said Braun, quoted by OKO.press. “If you’re not afraid, you’re already a slave,” read an image that he posted to advertise today’s protest.

Alongside Braun on stage was Justyna Socha, who has led efforts in Poland to end the compulsory use of vaccines. Groups of “patriotic football fans” also helped to organise today’s protest.

Police constantly broadcasted messages to participants that their gathering was illegal. After those warnings were ignored, officers took “decisive action” in response to “blatant violation of safety rules related to the epidemic”, the police announced.

After then “facing aggression and physical attacks” from the protesters, the police deployed tear gas and used physical force, they said in a statement. Some of the demonstrators threw bottles at the police, reports Gazeta Wyborcza. A number of them were detained.

While the Polish government says it wants to avoid the full lockdown it implemented in the spring – which helped keep infection rates low during the first wave – it has in recent weeks introduced ever stricter measures in response to record and rapidly rising numbers of coronavirus cases.

Poland today recorded its highest ever daily figure for deaths (179). The number of new infections (13,628) was second only to yesterday’s record. There have been widespread reports of the healthcare system struggling to cope with the surge in cases.

The government yesterday announced that, from today, the whole of Poland would be classified as a coronavirus “red zone”. In addition to existing requirements – such as wearing masks outdoors – they introduced further restrictions, including closing restaurants and bars.

Such steps have prompted protests from the affected industries. Last week, there were complaints from fitness clubs over the closure of pools and gyms – one of which tried to rebrand itself as a church in order to stay open.

Following the order for restaurants and bars to close their doors today, business owners held a protest in Wrocław. They placed empty chairs and candles in the city’s main square.

Main image credit: Kuba Atys / Agencja Gazeta

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.