Police using ‘excessive violence’ against peaceful protesters in Poland

Police in Poland is doing more violent tactics on peaceful demonstrators at women-led demonstrations over abortion rights, according to activists.

Authorities have forced protesters on the ground, hit them with telescopic rods, and used kettling — a tactic that requires employing blockades to contain a group within a limited area — a human rights advocate who has been serving the demonstrators told.

Witnesses said plainclothes police, not all of whom were wearing armbands identifying them as police, beat demonstrators with batons last Wednesday night. Police also reportedly used tear gas on demonstrators.

At least 60 protesters, including one as young as 17 years -old, have been arrested in recent weeks, according to Eliza Rutynowska.

This figure is more important than the number of people arrested during a so-called “independence march” through the Polish capital Warsaw when nationalists and far-right people violently fought with police.
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Amnesty International has said that it was “appalled” about the reported violence and expressed deep attention at the detentions of the rebels.
Police reportedly confront young people

There are also claims that young people, in some circumstances minors, have remained detained or threatened by authorities.

One 17-year-old demonstrator was held in police custody, and while he is legally considered a minor, he is old sufficient to be subject to criminal liability under Polish law, according to Rutynowska.

A 14-year-old boy who had distributed message on Facebook about a solidarity march with the women’s demonstrations had police officers turn up at his door whilst he was getting part in remote classes, the lawyer said.

She claims they threatened him with the chance of criminal charges, saying he had engaged in an illegal act, and they contacted his school.
A 14-year-old girl was confronted by a police officer while she was taking part in a solidarity march with her grandma, Rutynowska said.