“We want to feel safe in our own country”

"We came here to protest against mass illegal migration because we fear for our children." "We want to feel safe in our own country." "We don't want people who don't share our values to impose their own values on us, values that are alien to us in our own home, Poland." "We don't want Poland to be like Germany or France, where people often feel alien in their own country." We disagree with a migration policy that simply accepts illegal migrants and with people entering Poland who we know nothing about. Meanwhile, every day we hear about more brutal crimes committed by illegal migrants." These are just some of the statements made by participants in the picket organized by the New Hope Confederation.

In Szczecin, as in other places across Poland, "Stop Immigration!" pickets organized by the Confederation are taking place in front of City Hall, attracting tens, even hundreds, of thousands of people. The protests are an expression of opposition to the migration policies of the current and previous governments. However, the demonstrations were primarily attended by ordinary residents, politically uninvolved, who oppose the uncontrolled influx of illegal migrants.

"This is an event that expresses opposition to the current migration policy, but above all, an expression of concern for our safety, our streets, our national identity," began Małgorzata Cabaj of Nowa Nadzieja. "I say this as a member of the Confederation, as a mother and a Pole who, like many of you, no longer wants to listen to lies about cultural enrichment. (...) Today, Poland is being forced to accept people we don't know, whose values contradict ours. This government's migration policy is leading to tragedy, as exemplified by the brutal taking of Klaudia's life from Toruń by a Venezuelan whose tourist visa had expired. No one was monitoring this. Let Klaudia's death serve as a warning so that Poland doesn't repeat the mistakes of Germany or France. (...) We don't want to live in a country where fear will be an everyday occurrence," she added.

Alicja Bodlas, also from Szczecin's New Hope, noted that, unlike Poland, Italy, Greece and France no longer accept migrants from Germany.

"The Netherlands, on the other hand, is tightening its asylum laws. Meanwhile, Poland is accepting almost all immigrants sent to us from across the western border," said Alicja Bodlas. "The Polish government admitted that over 9,000 immigrants were returned last year. This year, the figure will be around 5,000, and as we know, these are German police figures, as our services do not keep such statistics. (...) What Germany is doing is handing over illegal immigrants without any formalities. These are very often people from the most dangerous countries in the world, threatened by terrorism. We don't know who they are. If women's voices matter, hear us," emphasized the activist from the Confederation of New Hope.

Krzysztof Rudzki of the National Movement noted that since 2023, when Donald Tusk's government took office, "the number of asylum applications accepted by Poland has increased dramatically." Party activists presented charts and data.

"In its migration strategy, our government stated that the voices of foreigners must be taken into account when designing specific solutions. Yet, it is the voices of Poles as hosts that should be taken into account first and foremost. The government has failed to take appropriate steps to defend the Polish border. "As a resident of Pogodna, I will be collecting signatures against the establishment of the Foreigners' Integration Center in Pogodna. I also encourage residents of other settlements to contact us so that we can create such petitions," added Krzysztof Rudzki.

At one point, Pogoń Szczecin fans also entered the square in front of Szczecin City Hall, directly expressing their negative attitude toward the Prime Minister and his policies. Around 12:30 p.m., the fans, followed by many others, headed toward Solidarity Square, where members of the Border Defenders group had been gathering since noon.

At Solidarity Square, rally participants chanted similar slogans to those protesting in front of Szczecin City Hall. Speakers emphasized the nonpartisan nature of the grassroots Border Defenders movement, primarily its role as a social movement, a popular uprising of Poles in defense of identity, peace, to ensure the safety of families, and to prevent social chaos and violence, the victims of which are primarily women. "The point is for all of us to work together to avoid falling into partisanship. It doesn't matter whether it's one party or another, an association, or a foundation..." said one man.

- We are all Poles - added someone from the crowd.

One thing certainly united the participants of these protests: they all agreed that Polish borders must be defended against illegal migration, regardless of political views.

(rc)

Film production: Roman Ciepliński and Piotr Sikora