A number of Polish businesses have come out in support of mass protests against a constitutional court ruling that introduces a near-total ban on abortion.
In response, some conservatives – including a government minister – have called for a boycott of the companies. Meanwhile, the main organisers of the women’s protests have threatened legal action against firms that profit from their logo without permission.
On Wednesday, Poland’s fourth-largest bank, mBank, released a video on its social media which included the lightning bolt symbol of the protests and a short message of support.
As well as many voices of approval, the post also prompted some protests. Among those who joined calls for a boycott of the bank was a deputy minister for state assets, Janusz Kowalski. He recommended that customers quit the bank – whose German ownership he highlighted – and transfer their accounts to Polish competitors.
mBank’s share price – which had already been tumbling since earlier this year – dropped to 118 zloty on Thursday, the lowest it has been in over a decade.
Zachęcam do przenoszenia aktywów finansowych do 🇵🇱banków: @PKOBP, @BankPekaoSA, @AliorBankSA, @PocztowyBank czy @BOS__Bank. Warto zamknąć rachunek w 🇩🇪banku @mBankpl, który zamiast biznesem zajmuje się polityką i wspieraniem protestów, które zagrażają zdrowiu i życiu Polaków. https://t.co/PhCQkqncxH
— Janusz Kowalski (@JKowalski_posel) October 28, 2020
Kowalski also called for a boycott of other companies that have supported workers who on Wednesday joined a strike in protest against the abortion ruling. These included Poland’s oldest chocolate producer, E. Wedel, which now belongs to the Japanese Lotte Group.
A number of people have said that they would stop buying the company’s products, reports conservative news website wPolityce. One online critic asked if the firm would also support staff who wanted to attend the annual nationalist Independence March on 11 November (which is a national holiday).
Meanwhile, Lukullus, a chain of upmarket cake shops, has announced that all proceeds from its Napoleon cakes will be given to Strajk Kobiet (Women’s Strike), the organisation coordinating the protests.
Other brands joined the general strike on Wednesday, including Pan Tu Nie Stał, a clothing firm, which closed all of its shops on the day. Cosmetics company Resibo also signalled its support, as did several boutique fashion labels, such as Moye, MLE Collection, Elementy, LeBrand, Plantwear and MOIÉL.
Netguru, a software developer, wrote that “as a member of the United Nations Global Compact Program” they have agreed to a set of principles which include undertaking to “protect and respect human rights”.
The company therefore announced that it would support everyone who “decides to take a day off and participate in Wednesday’s protests”.
Kubota, a company producing cult rubber flip-flops, posted a message of support with a mock-up of lightning-bolt-adorned shoes. They have, however, clarified that the model will not be for sale.
In response to a number of companies offering merchandise featuring the red lightning bolt, Marta Lempart, one of the leaders of Strajk Kobiet, has warned that “it is not OK” for firms to make money from her organisation’s copyrighted logo. Their lawyers are “looking into the case”, she said.
Meanwhile, Green Caffe Nero, a large cafe chain, also posted an image of coffee with the protest’s symbol sprinkled on the milk froth. “Coffee is a woman,” they wrote.
Bobby Burger, one Poland’s largest burger chains, has released several social media posts advocating “choice”.
“It is highly likely that we will lose more than we gain by standing up for the protesters,” they wrote. A Kantar poll released this week indicated that a majority of the public (54%) support the protests while 43% are opposed.
Several other restaurants and cafes – which since Saturday have only been allowed to operate take-aways – have catered to protesters with free hot drinks and shelter.
Bar Wieczorny in the Mokotów district in Warsaw has announced that it will open its doors for medical workers who have been supporting the protests, providing them with hot drinks and access to their toilets. They will also be pouring shots of homemade cherry liqueur (wiśniówka) for protesters.
Yesterday, after a number of universities declared support for the protests and some allowed staff and students to miss classes to attend, the education minister condemned their “irresponsible” actions and suggested he may cut their funding.
Today marks the ninth consecutive day of protests against last Thursday’s ruling. Police announced that on Wednesday 430,000 people attended 410 demonstrations across the country. That would make them the biggest protests in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989.
Further protests are planned for Friday, as Strajk Kobiet has called on demonstrators to travel to Warsaw for a big joint march.
The protests have so far been overwhelmingly peaceful. But there have been some clashes with police and with nationalists opposed to the protests, as well as cases of vandalism.
Main image credit: Lukullus/Facebook
Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.
