An LGBT march took place on the streets of Olsztyn on Saturday. After the event, police attempted to fine the woman driving the lead platform vehicle, but she refused to accept the penalty. Despite repeated warnings, the march organizers allegedly violated traffic regulations.
Around 300 people participated in Saturday’s Equality March in Olsztyn. Participants walked through the city center carrying slogans promoting equality and solidarity, while the event’s main message was that “Safety cannot wait.”
The march itself proceeded peacefully. Participants repeatedly thanked the police for providing security, as a counter-demonstration was taking place near the starting point of the march. However, after the event ended, a dispute broke out between the organizers and the police over an alleged violation of traffic laws.
The incident concerned a vehicle that led the march through downtown Olsztyn for nearly an hour. During the procession, two drag queens were standing on the vehicle’s cargo platform, despite regulations prohibiting the transportation of people in that manner.
Anna Balińska, spokesperson for the Olsztyn Police, confirmed that officers intended to issue the driver a PLN 600 fine along with penalty points because two people were dancing, walking, and making speeches on the moving vehicle’s platform.
“This constitutes an offense under Article 63 of the Road Traffic Act, and we informed the organizers about it repeatedly before the march. We explained many times before the event that they were not allowed to transport people on the cargo platform of the vehicle, yet the police’s warnings were ignored,” Balińska said.
The police spokesperson emphasized that officers deliberately waited until the march had ended before taking action.
“We did not want to stop the vehicle at the beginning or interrupt the march with a police intervention. That is why, once the event had concluded, officers proceeded with the intervention,” Balińska said, confirming that the driver refused to accept the fine. As a result, the case will now be decided by a court.
The Equality March in Olsztyn was held under the honorary patronage of Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk. In a gesture of solidarity with the participants, a rainbow flag was displayed on Olsztyn City Hall, from where the march began.