Speakers with histories of antisemitic statements address Polish far-right “freedom picnic” in Manchester

A far-right “freedom picnic” held for Poles in Bury, Manchester on 15th September featured Stanisław Michalkiewicz, who once said that Poles are “being outmanoeuvred by Judeans who are trying to force our government to pay extortion money disguised as compensation [for the Holocaust]”.

Mr Michalkiewicz is a host on Radio Maryja, a Polish station described by a major American anti-hate organisation as having “a long history of broadcasting antisemitism to its followers.” He is also reportedly in legal trouble in Poland after allegedly calling a thirteen-year-old sexual abuse survivor a “whore”.

Another speaker, Sławomir Mentzen, was apparently behind the Party’s slogan, “We don’t want Jews, gays, abortion, taxes and the EU”, while Sebastian Ross, who also spoke, has reportedly suggested that Jews are using “guilt” to exploit antisemitism and generate funds for monitoring it.

The freedom picnic was apparently organised by the far-right Polish Konfederacja party, which has followers in the UK.