Polish Women’s Strike Moves to New York City, Wypie****** PiS
The usually calm block of 37 th and Madison Ave in midtown Manhattan erupted with crowds on Saturday Oct. 30 th . The Polish consulate was surrounded with protesters holding signs and chanting phrases like “this is war” and “my body my choice.” This came as a direct result of the outrage that Polish citizens felt when a new restrictive anti-abortion law was passed by the conservative ruling party in Poland, Law and Justice (PiS).
Wiktor Dynarski, a Polish activist for trans and queer rights, organized the demonstration in New York City along with Kamilla Kielbowska, a UX designer. They wanted to show solidarity with the protesters in Poland by staging a demonstration at the Polish Consulate in New York. Traditionally, the Polish diaspora in the US is known for being very conservative and right-leaning, however the organizers have been meeting more and more people that don’t identify with these values and are wanting to see a more progressive change.
The law, which was passed by the Polish Constitutional Court on Oct. 22, makes abortions due to fetal defects illegal. Since that day Polish citizens, mainly young people, have not stopped flooding the streets in protest of the oppressive government. Hundreds of thousands were seen marching through cities all across the country demanding their human rights.
Poland is already one of the most conservative countries in the European Union. It boasts anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and Catholic-influenced views on denying women’s reproductive rights. Doctors and pharmacists have the right to refuse birth control and Plan-B prescriptions based on their beliefs. Many women are turned away and shamed for seeking contraceptives. There is little to no sex education taught to Polish youth in schools and the information provided is usually incorrect.
The protests started in Poland but spread globally as Polish migrants around the world organized at their local embassies to show support for their country. Demonstrations were seen in London, Berlin, Tokyo, Toronto, and recently in New York City.
When asked about how she feels about what is currently going on in Poland, Kamilla Kielbowska says, “I am terrified. I am scared for my queer friends. This is not the country I grew up in.“
Wiktor Dynarski, who recently moved to the US, says “I left Poland a few years ago exactly because of the effects of PiS’ rule on queer people and other marginalized communities as well as on reproductive rights. It became clear to me that I was no longer interested in living in a country where my basic rights were not respected. I know to a lot of folks this sounds a bit ironic, especially when a foreigner says something like that about the US of the Trump presidency, but these few years back, this was one of my alternatives for an increasingly authoritarian Poland”
The increasing tensions in Poland have allowed for Neo-Nazi fascists and ultra right-wing groups who tout the Catholic Church as their belief system, to display themselves during Poland’s Independence day on Nov 11 th . Fascist demonstrators were attempting to burn down an apartment that was flying a Women’s Strike symbol during their march across Warsaw.
Instead they accidentally set fire to an apartment two stories below. Nov. 11 th is a day that for many Polish people, means a day spent in fear and hiding indoors. Aggression, vandalism, and looting are methods used by the fascist and right-wing demonstrators to show their patriotism and support for the Catholic Church.
This year’s Independence Day demonstration was organized under the phrase “Our Civilization, Our Rules” and the corresponding poster that was circulated showed a Polish knight stabbing a red-and-rainbow-colored star, which symbolizes the destruction of communism and LGBTQ people. The left-leaning mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trszaskowski, banned the march due to the pandemic but people showed up regardless bearing flags and chanting, “God, Honor, and Homeland!”
Many young people are choosing to leave rather than deal with the constant fear that haunts them through their daily lives. Dynarski says, “Growing up trans, I knew and experienced hostile attitudes and environments. I never thought that we would see openly fascist members of Parliament elected exactly because of the beliefs they held… The reason why I experienced burnout in Poland was because our legal gender recognition legislation was vetoed by president Andrzej Duda (PiS), and later forfeit by the liberals who had a chance to undo the veto. After that, I felt defeated, so I left.
Vogule Poland, a popular media duo consisting of Adam Maczewski (Madam) and Patryk Chilewicz, commentate on Polish culture, lifestyle and celebrity news through a comedic lens while being openly and unapologetically gay. Due to the political climate in Poland they have also chosen to leave and instead produce their content in Barcelona, Spain where their lives aren’t in danger just because of who they are.
In an interview with Rytmy.pl, Chilewicz expresses, “I can see that the tensions in Poland and the aggression pouring from the lips of politicians that spreads to the streets, destroys me. Psychologically and physically, I can see myself deteriorating. You only have one life and I have been waiting for 30 years for it to be normal. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
The Polish Government’s openly anti-LGBTQ and anti-Woman stance creates a hostile environment. Adam Maczewski (Madam) describes his life in Poland with his fiancé Chilewicz to Noizz.pl. “We tried to leave our house as little as possible. We only went out shopping once a week, and when we did go out we always kept pepper spray in our pockets. I can’t even imagine how other LGBTQ people who live in smaller towns or hamlets feel.”
Chilewicz further explains, “When we did go outside we heard people comment things like “fa**ots” or openly laugh at us. Poland is the kind of place where even if you shut yourself behind four walls, close your eyes, shut your ears, you still breathe fear.”
The protests show that progressive change is paramount to the future success of Poland. A country that has been through countless wars and violent conflicts cannot stand against its own citizens and expect to move forward. The people are tired and grow anxious. Poland is not just for conservative Catholics, Poland is for everyone.
