Ceremonies marking the 46th anniversary of the Lublin July 1980 protests were held in Lublin. The event was attended by Przemysław Czarnek, Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister, who delivered a forceful speech referring to the courage of those who took part in the historic events.
Przemysław Czarnek began his speech by referring to the teachings of Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko.
“The greatest enemy is our own fear. There are a thousand reasons to give in to fear – that is what Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko kept reminding us. In times of terror and oppression, when fundamental rights and freedoms were being trampled upon, courage was the hardest thing to find,” the politician said.
The Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister emphasized the historical significance of the events that unfolded in the Lublin region in the summer of 1980, highlighting the crucial role played by local workers.
“There would have been no Solidarity without Lublin, without the railway workers and without the workers of many factories across the Lublin region. Let us pay tribute to the heroes of Lublin July ’80!” Czarnek appealed.
Later in his speech, Czarnek argued that the attitude displayed by the participants of the strikes 46 years ago should serve as an example for present-day Poles.
“The railway workers here had the courage not to stand together with the communists – the scoundrels, those who were destroying the Polish state. We need that same courage today,” the Law and Justice (PiS) candidate for prime minister said, adding that the workers of Lublin July consciously refused to show solidarity with the communist authorities.
“Let Us Expect Courage from One Another”
Czarnek also recalled the heavy price the strikers could have paid for their opposition to the communist regime.
“They risked everything – their lives, years in prison, and the persecution of their families – yet they refused to stand with the liars and the communists, with those who oppressed the Polish nation!” he stressed.
Concluding his speech, Czarnek urged today’s society to demonstrate the same courage, emphasizing the responsibility borne for the future of the next generations of Poles.
“Let us expect that courage from one another. Even today, the fate of our children and future generations is being forged. Without our courage, without confronting evil, future generations will not be able to commemorate these ceremonies as we do today. Honor and glory to the heroes. Let us call for courage!” he concluded.