Organizers of a rally in Kalisz, Poland featuring far-right nationalists chanting “Death to Jews” were arrested on November 15, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The protesters at the November 11 rally, which took place during Poland’s Independence Day, can also be seen in footage burning a book about a document that protects the rights of Jews in Poland while chanting “No to Polin, Yes to Poland.” “Polin” is the Hebrew word for Poland, according to The Jerusalem Post. Those who led the rally also called for the expulsion of Zionists and the LGBTQ+ community, both of whom were called “enemies of Poland,” the Associated Press reported.
During a march for Independence Day in the city of Kalisz, Poland, a group of ultranationalists held an antisemitic rally and burned a historical book on the rights of Jews in Poland, in addition to shouting "Death to the Jews, Jews out of Poland." #standuptohatred pic.twitter.com/0V9yipDBhM
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) November 13, 2021
The rally also featured a sign stating “Polish Intifada” and “No more Zionism!”
Presented without comment. pic.twitter.com/AxOS4KuAhV
— Blake Flayton (@blakeflayton) November 13, 2021
Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski called the rally “shameful and scandalous” and vowed that those involved will face “legal consequences.” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted in Hebrew, “The horrific antisemitic incident in Poland reminds every Jew in the world of the strength of hatred that exists in the world.”
Bishop Rafal Markowski, who chairs the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, also said in a statement that the actions of the protestors undermine “the dignity of our brethren and destroy social order and peace” and “are in direct contradiction to the Gospel and the teaching of the Church.”
Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and the Union of Jewish Communities in Poland said in a joint statement: “Poland is our homeland. We’re both Jewish and Polish. We’re asking why our right to regard Poland as our home is being questioned ever more often.”
Poland's Chief Rabbi and AJC’s partners at the Union of Jewish Communities in Poland issued the following statement:
"Poland is our homeland. We're both Jewish and Polish. We're asking why our right to regard Poland as our home is being questioned ever more often."
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 15, 2021
B’nai Brith International tweeted that they were “troubled” by the rally. “We are disappointed in the national [government] for enabling this sorry display by helping to challenge a city ban on the far-right march.”
Troubled to see yesterday's Independence Day March in #Warsaw break out, as in prior yrs, into #antisemitic, white supremacist & anti-LGBT slogans.
We are disappointed in the national gov. for enabling this sorry display by helping to challenge a city ban on the far-right march. pic.twitter.com/ikDZ6Q7oN9
— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) November 12, 2021
Stop Antisemitism tweeted, “From 1941 – 1945 nearly all of the Jews in Poland were gassed, starved and/or murdered. In Poland 2021 they’re STILL screaming ‘Death to Jews.’”
From 1941 – 1945 nearly all of the Jews in Poland were gassed, starved and/or murdered.
In Poland 2021 they’re STILL screaming “Death to Jews”.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) November 13, 2021
Tray-Ann Oberman, a British actress, tweeted that the “Polish Intifada” sign was an example of how anti-Zionism is antisemitism, noting that Polish nationalists were “using Palestinian ‘activism’ to shout death to Jews. When [Members of Parliament] in the UK call for an intifada on OUR streets this is what they mean.”
People ask where is anti Zionism anti Semitism – this is an example. Polish Zeig Heiling antisemites using Palestinian ‘activism’ to shout death to Jews. When MPs in the UK call for an intifada on OUR streets this is what they mean. https://t.co/EDDM6wuqhW
— Tracy-Ann Oberman 🇺🇦 (@TracyAnnO) November 14, 2021
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