Mass bookings, threats, unjustified and unpunished use of excessive force on protesters show that violence in Polish police is a systemic problem. Reports of human rights organisations paint the picture of a broad spectrum of repressive practices applied to intimidate the unruly. The abuse of police powers requires institutional solutions, as it is not only an incidental occurrence within the last weeks.

To discuss these issues, we invited the representatives of the Office of the Polish Ombudsman, Panoptykon Foundation as well as activists working in tenants, queer, women’s, anti–racist and pro–refugee movements. Our meetings will conclude with discussions with Belorussian activists about grass–roots tools of defence against police repression, and with British artists about Black Lives Matter protests in London and their impact on the public debate about police activities.

Program:

• 4 pm – 4:45 pm Part I: Police violence – towards problem diagnosis
  • Przemysław Kazimirski (Office of the Ombudsman – National Torture Prevention Mechanism)
  • Wojciech Klicki (Panoptykon Foundation)

• 4:45 pm – 5 pm break

• 5 pm – 6:05 pm Part II: Repressive police practices in social experiences
  • Jarosław Urbański (OZZ Employee Initiative)
  • Magdalena Dropek (Queer May)
  • Katarzyna Czarnota (UAM)
  • Piotr Środa, activist from Krakow (Women’s strike)

• 6:05 pm – 6:15 pm break

• 6:15 pm – 6:45 pm Part III: With the bottom–up mobilization strategies. Interview by Inga Hajdarowicz with Belarusian activists
• 6:45 pm – 7:15 pm Part IV: Ghost Town. Interview by Sylwia Serafinowicz with Keith Pipper and Drillminister

Moderators: Beata Kowalska, Inga Hajdarowicz, Sylwia Serafinowicz