Residents of Skierniewice took to the streets today to protest against the construction of a Center for the Integration of Foreigners (CIC) in their town. They are also expressing opposition to the influx of illegal migrants into Poland. It was in Skierniewice that migrants were placed in a children’s home, after which they reportedly began attempting to impose their own customs.
As previously reported by Niezalezna.pl, at the end of June, three individuals claiming to be underage illegal migrants were placed in one of the local orphanages. Problems began just days after their arrival. The “newcomers” ran away, and one of them is still being sought. Eventually, they were brought back to the facility.
“We received information that two of the refugees are trying to ‘control’ the other children at the orphanage,” said Michał Murgrabia, a representative of the initiative opposing the creation of the CIC in Skierniewice (www.stopcic.pl). Reportedly, they demanded that the girls in the home dress differently.
Today, the residents of the town took to the streets to express their objection to the establishment of the CIC.
“The system for monitoring migrants—who is allowed to come here—is inadequate. And yet, they gain access to our youngest children, who should be the safest,” one protester told Telewizja Republika. She had come to the demonstration with her husband and two small children. “It’s clear there are more people here from the Middle East,” her husband said, describing the current situation in Skierniewice.
Mayor Krzysztof Jażdżyk did not come out to meet with the organizers, despite being seen driving around the area. “It’s clear that the mayor prefers to stay in his comfort zone. One day he attends a meeting with Rafał Trzaskowski, another day with Karol Nawrocki. As long as he doesn’t have to speak up,” Michał Murgrabia commented to Republika.
The management of the children’s home, in front of which the protest took place, also refused to talk. By late morning, around 150 people had gathered there. The example of the Mazovian Voivodeship shows that public pressure on local authorities can work. There, CICs were initially proposed in Warsaw, Ostrołęka, Siedlce, Radom, and Płock—yet in the end, only one center is to be established in Warsaw.