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Tens of Thousands March in Poland's Independence Day Event

Updated 6:43 PM ET · 3:48 PM ETConfirmedShare via:          

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In Short: Tens of thousands of nationalist supporters gathered in Warsaw for Poland's Independence Day march, which took place on November 11, 2026, following a mass shooting that killed six people.

Tens of thousands attend Polish nationalist march days after shootings • FRANCE 24 English. FRANCE 24 English

Tens of thousands of nationalist supporters gathered in Warsaw for Poland's Independence Day march, which took place on November 11, 2026, following a mass shooting that killed six people in Krakow on November 7. The march, held annually since 1918, commemorates the end of more than 100 years of partition by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

The event, which has long been a source of tension between right-wing groups and Poland’s governing centrists, was marked by criticism for anti-Semitic and anti-immigration rhetoric. Supporters, however, say the gathering is an expression of national pride under the motto 'A Pole is the host in Poland'.

Poland’s conservative-nationalist President Karol Nawrocki was seen attending the march and has previously participated in both his official capacity and as a private citizen. Nawrocki said, 'Poland does not exist today so that the political elites can grant themselves the right to manage citizens against the will of the nation', alluding to the centrist government.

The march took place amid heightened political divisions following the mass shooting in Krakow. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had appealed for restraint prior to the march, noting that the man who killed six people and wounded more than a dozen in the main square of Krakow on Saturday may have been motivated by far-right ideology.

Pawel, 21, from the southern city of Rzeszow, told AFP it was 'important because religion is important in our country and we don't want Islamisation, of Europe or especially Poland'. Kamil Staszalek, 30, said he was there to 'honour the memory of those who fought for Poland's freedom'.

Andy Eddles, a British language teacher who has been living in Poland for 27 years, expressed shock at the demonstration, saying, 'They're allowed to demonstrate on this day'.

State broadcaster TVP, which reflects the conservative government’s line, called it a 'great march of patriots' and described the event as one that drew mostly regular Poles expressing their love of Poland, not extremists.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The Independence Day march, which has long been a source of tension between right-wing groups and Poland’s governing centrists, has been held annually on November 11 since 1918 to commemorate the end of more than 100 years of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
• The annual march has faced criticism for anti-Semitic and anti-immigration rhetoric, while supporters say the gathering, held under the motto “A Pole is the host in Poland”, is an expression of national pride.
• Poland’s conservative-nationalist President Karol Nawrocki was seen attending the march and has previously participated in both his official capacity and as a private citizen.
• Poland “does not exist today so that the political elites can grant themselves the right to manage citizens … against the will of the nation”, Nawrocki said, alluding to the centrist government.
• Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks as President Donald Trump listens at a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, March 24, 2025, in Washington.
• Tens of thousands of people joined a nationalist march in Warsaw on Saturday, organised to coincide with Poland's independence day.
• Andy Eddles, a British language teacher who has been living in Poland for 27 years, said he was "shocked that they're allowed to demonstrate on this day".

What's still developing

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• (OSV News) — A Mexican priest was murdered on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, reinforcing the country’s reputation as the most lethal in the world for Catholic clergy.
• According to tradition, 33 independence patriots acquired the Guaraní statue and had it with them when independence was declared from the Brazilian empire in Florida on Aug. 25, 1825.
• According to tradition, 33 independence patriots acquired the Guaraní statue and had it with them when independence was declared from the Brazilian empire in Florida on Aug.
• Two other women aged 17 and 24, who had gone in to submit enrolment documents, were also injured, Poland's state news agency reported.
• It comes a day after thousands of police visited schools across Poland, following two stabbing attacks earlier in the week, one of which led to the killing of a female caretaker.
• A woman has been arrested after injuring three people in a third knife attack recorded at schools in Poland this week.
• Schools in Poland had been stepping up security following knife attacks at schools across the country on 7 and 8 October.
• President Donald Trump and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle greet each other during a Greek Independence Day celebration event at the White House on March 26, 2026.
• Heavy rains have flooded approximately 70,000 tents in Gaza, leaving tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians without adequate shelter, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office.

Sources

• Reuterslink
• Al Jazeeralink
• BBClink
• The Denver Postlink
• Warpbeatlink
• OSV Newslink
• Abcnewslink
• Motherjoneslink
• Telegraphheraldlink
• Santafenewmexicanlink
• BBClink
• WarpBeat — background on Tens of thousands of tents flooded after heavy rains in Gaza link
• FRANCE 24 English — video link
• DRM News — video link
• DWS News — video link