Warsaw bans march citing risk of violence and hatred expressions

Warsaw’s mayor has banned a nationalist march planned for Sunday to mark the centenary of Polish independence, citing the risk of violence and expressions of hatred.

The Guardian reports that the march was being organised partly by far-right nationalist groups, one of which said it would defy the ban.

A rally is held annually in the capital on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of Poland’s independence at the end of the first world war, but last year’s event was marked by confrontations with counter-protesters.

“Warsaw has already suffered enough due to aggressive nationalism,” the mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, said. “Poland’s 100th anniversary of independence shouldn’t look like this, hence my decision to forbid it.”