Protest Cop Attack on Gay Rights March in Poland!

We reprint below the translation of a November 23 letter by the Committee for Social Defense (KfsV) in Germany to Polish president-elect Lech Kaczynski and Poznan mayor Ryszard Grobelny, protesting a brutal police attack on gay and lesbian rights activists in Poznan on November 19. This assault was the latest example of a campaign of the Polish capitalist state—established after the Solidarność-led counterrevolution 15 years ago—against the democratic rights of gays, lesbians, national minorities and the left. It comes on the heels of Kaczynski’s recent election on a program of re-establishing the death penalty, even further restricting abortion rights for women and establishing a clerical, anti-communist “Fourth Republic.” The Kaczynski regime thus threatens to bring every aspect of life in Poland ever more under the control of the Catholic church.

The KfsV is a class-struggle, non-sectarian legal and social defense organization that champions cases and causes in the interest of the whole of the working people. This purpose is in accordance with the political views of the Spartakist Workers Party, German section of the International Communist League (Fourth Internationalist). Today, the Polish capitalist state unleashes its police against gay and lesbian rights activists. Tomorrow, the same police will be unleashed against striking workers who defend their jobs and the meager social welfare that still exists. An injury to one is an injury to all! Full democratic rights for homosexuals! For free abortion on demand!

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On Saturday, 19 November 2005, in the city of Poznan, police in riot gear brutally assaulted a march of several hundred people for equal rights for gays and lesbians. This march was banned by Poznan’s mayor, Ryszard Grobelny, who followed the example of the Polish president-elect, Lech Kaczynski, who last June as mayor of Warsaw outlawed the “Parade of Equality.” The police attack occurred at the end of the march and was cheered by fascistic reactionaries who hurled racist and homophobic epithets at the demonstrators. The police first surrounded the march and then started beating and arresting 65 demonstrators, dragging them along the sidewalk. The protesters now face penalties of up to one month in prison.

The Komitee für soziale Verteidigung (Committee for Social Defense) demands: Stop the persecution of gay and lesbian rights activists in Poland! Drop all charges against the Poznan demonstrators!