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Solidarity with Belarus: Thousands attend Poland concert

11,000 people gathered at Poland's National Stadium in Warsaw in solidarity with pro-democracy protesters in Belarus

By IQ on 02 Oct 2020

Solidarity with Belarus (Solidarni z Białorusią)

image © ARAM

A line-up of popular Polish and Belarusian artists performed at Poland’s National Stadium last week as part of a concert in support of the protest movement against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Solidarity with Belarus (Solidarni z Białorusią) took place at the 58,580-seat PGE Narodowy in Warsaw – bedecked for the occasion in white-red-white of the pre-1995 Belarusian flag, used as a symbol by pro-democracy protestors – on 26 September. Performers included many musical veterans of Poland’s own struggle for democracy, such Chłopcy z Placu Broni, who performed ‘I Love Freedom’ in both Polish and Belarusian.

A total of 11,000 free tickets were available for the show, which was broadcast live on Belsat, a Polish government-owned channel aimed at Belarus, and Polsat, a private Polish TV station.

“Today the Belarusian people are fighting for their freedom”

Providing the visual the experience was Polish production company ARAM, which delivered almost 1,000m² of new Infiled AR-series LED screens, which were installed on layer construction.

To meet local Covid-19 regulations, attendees were obliged to sanitise their hands on entry and wear face coverings until they took their seats, with the requirements enforced by police.

Speaking at Solidarni z Białorusią, Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki told concertgoers: “We are here to be with Belarusians on their bumpy road to freedom,” adding that it was 40 years ago that the anti-communist Solidarity movement emerged in Poland.

“Back then, Poles had the courage to say ‘no’ to those who violated human rights and trampled on freedom. Today the Belarusian people are fighting for their freedom… Long live sovereign and free Belarus, and long live Poland.”

 


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