EUROPE-MIGRANTS/POLAND ANTI-MIGRANTS MARCH Thousands of Poles protest in Warsaw against accepting migrants

Record ID: 141208

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/POLAND ANTI-MIGRANTS MARCH Thousands of Poles protest in Warsaw against accepting migrants
  • Date: 12th September 2015
  • Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 12, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS ANTI-MIGRANT PROTESTERS MARCHING, POLICE CORDON MAN OF DARK SKIN COMPLEXION HOLDING HIS HAND COVERING EAR AFTER REPORTEDLY BEING HIT ANOTHER MAN OF DARK SKIN COMPLEXION LYING ON THE GROUND AFTER HE HAS BEEN BEING HIT BY DEMONSTRATORS; MAN PUSHING PROTESTERS AWAY FROM LYING MAN VARIOUS ANTI-MIGRANT DEMONSTRATION SPEAKER SHOUTING (Polish): "No, no no to immigrants" DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTING (Polish): "Poles against migrants" (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTI-MIGRANT DEMONSTRATOR, SEBASTIAN KAIM, SAYING: "I am here because I do not agree and we all do not agree for the Islamisation of Europe and Islamisation of Poland." VARIOUS DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLARES
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Poland
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABJ20LOEO86DLV1FNZZWAWH6H9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of Poles marched in Warsaw on Saturday (September 12) to protest against accepting refugees.
    The demonstration was organized by far-right groups Ruch Narodowy and ONR which oppose government's plans to accept more migrants from Syria and Africa.
    Protesters chanted "No, no no to immigrants", "Poles against immigrants" as they marched through central Warsaw and behaving aggressively towards onlookers of dark skin complexion, hitting some and shouting insults towards the others.
    "Muslim refugees are Trojan horse for Europe," read one poster.
    One anti-Muslim protester, Sebastian Kaim, said Islam was a threat to his nation.
    "I am here because I do not agree and we all do not agree for the Islamisation of Europe and Islamisation of Poland," he said.
    Several far-right groups tried to attack pro-migrant demonstration which took place at the same time several hundred meters away. Police stopped them to avoid clashes.
    "I'm not afraid of Muslims, I'm not afraid of any human being, doesn't matter his or her faith, his or her background or culture. I am afraid of hate, I am afraid of violence, but I am not afraid of people I am not afraid of their values," said Ewa Kownacka, at the pro-migrant rally.
    "I used to work in London and I met a lot of Muslims and I met people that were very calm, very easy, very good to me and I would like to say I am not afraid (of Muslims), added another migrant supporter Artur Kacprzak.
    In July, Poland agreed to accept more than 2,000 refugees from Syria and North Africa by 2017. But according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's emergency plan, Poland would be required to accept almost 10,000 more.
    Juncker proposed on Wednesday a plan to relocate a total of 160,000 asylum seekers across EU countries. He estimated a cost to the EU of 780 million euros ($880 million) over two years. EU states are expected to contribute with national resources, too.
    Since the beginning of the year, about 500,000 migrants have reached the European Union, fleeing war and poverty in their home countries.
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