We were attacked during a concert. A group of several assailants threw glass bottles, stones, and sprayed pepper spray.
See video: https://youtu.be/alTBiGPUv_s
Help us: https://opencollective.com/ocsk-postoj
On October 18th, during the concert, a group of young men appeared at the Postoj space with the intent to provoke. They tried to enter, ignoring the rules. They didn’t like the Star of David on the poster against anti-Semitism, but after we disagreed with such behavior, they calmed down.
Later, they were caught with alcohol, so following the principle of a sober space, we tried to ask them to leave. When the conversation didn’t work, we applied direct force.
An hour later, they returned in a larger group, armed with pepper spray, glass bottles, and stones. For half an hour, they were throwing objects at us and tried to break into the area, shouting „Free Palestine!” and „The entire left hates you”. One of us was attacked with pepper spray, and that’s when we called the police. They fled when it arrived. No one from the collective sustained serious physical injuries, but many people experienced significant stress and retraumatization.
This was an ideologically motivated attack on a place that has been building a community based on empathy, sobriety, antifascism, and the fight against hate for three years. We had previously faced significant violence, but never during events. For the past two years, former acquaintances from the radical left have attacked us for not excluding Israeli victims in our solidarity stance with all civilian victims of wars. They pretend not to know that the Postój events have featured a Palestinian flag, that we’ve raised money to support Palestinians, and that we have repeatedly shown our support for their right to freedom, safety, and self-determination.
They attack us for calling Hamas fascists, for our cooperation with Jewish people, Israeli punks, and because some of us co-organized the “Never Again Anti-Semitism” demonstration.
Furthermore, about a week ago, a new online lynching began against members of our collective, featuring their photos, addresses, and other sensitive information. The lynching found fertile ground in Polish anti-Semitism, which is also stirred by some factions of the left. Instead of fighting hate, they spread it, strengthening fascists and the far-right, and creating a sense of impunity for violence. This violence has found a new face: young men convinced they are fighting for a righteous cause, but in reality, repeating fascist patterns. They prove how important the slogan „Never Again!” is in its original meaning – as a form of opposition to the resurgence of anti-Semitism, so that history never repeats itself. You can read a longer text on this issue and our previous articles on our website.
We will not be intimidated. The community is stronger than hate. After what happened, we need funds to purchase used self-defense tools, to improve security, and to cover legal assistance. This is also a good time to get involved – we invite others who want to help create the OCSK Postój and the social-political activity around it.
https://opencollective.com/ocsk-postoj
Above all, however, we count on solidarity. We have already realized how hard it is to find it in the broader anarchist movement. We wish strength to those who disagree with what is happening in it, and also strong will to those willing to break free from its toxic confines. We know we can count on various antifascist individuals, international groups, as well as independent artists and activists. So do not stay indifferent to what is happening. We know how hard it is to deal with the witch-hunt and exclusion. We understand if someone doesn’t have the strength to speak publicly, but silence is a form of consent. We cannot remain silent about hate. We cannot allow this.