A Violent Polish Independence Day Parade In Warsaw

This year the right-wing groups, left-wing radicals and government supporters held their own Polish Independence Day parades in Warsaw to push for their visions of what sort of country Poland should be.

However, the parade turned violent when the riot police confronted right-wing nationalists.

The right wing groups were not happy because they feel the government has liberal values imported from Europe that are ruining Poland’s Catholic traditions.

They are unhappy with issues like gay rights or LGBT rights.

A Reuters correspondent saw policemen beating protesters with truncheons, forcing the rioters to disperse.

Police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said, “The police used rubber bullets, pepper spray, stun grenades and truncheons.”

Poland was independent on November 11, 1918.

Anyway I wonder why did some people waved Ukraine flags during the Polish Independence Day celebration as in the first picture?

(Please click the photos for bigger images)

Demonstrators are seen on the streets as violence breaks out at a parade celebrating Poland’s national holiday in Warsaw November 11, 2012. The police used truncheons to try to break up a crowd of right-wing extremists on Sunday who were pelting them with firecrackers and lumps of concrete. REUTERS/Stefan Romanik/Agencja Gazeta

Demonstrators are seen on the streets as violence breaks out at a parade celebrating Poland’s national holiday in Warsaw November 11, 2012. The police used truncheons to try to break up a crowd of right-wing extremists on Sunday who were pelting them with firecrackers and lumps of concrete. REUTERS/Stefan Romanik/Agencja Gazeta

A photographer runs to safety as riot police confronts demonstrators as violence breaks out at a parade celebrating Poland’s national holiday in Warsaw November 11, 2012. The police used truncheons to try to break up a crowd of right-wing extremists on Sunday who were pelting them with firecrackers and lumps of concrete. REUTERS/Peter Andrews

Riot police confronts demonstrators as violence broke out at a parade celebrating Poland’s national holiday in Warsaw November 11, 2012. The police used truncheons to try to break up a crowd of right-wing extremists on Sunday who were pelting them with firecrackers and lumps of concrete. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel