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On 10.X. we celebrated – The Day against the Death Penalty

On 10 October, in front of the main office of the European Union Representation in Warsaw, we carried out a campaign in support of the European Day against the Death Penalty.

 

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The preparations for the European Day against the Death Penalty, work on the book containing Internet signatures (there were well over a thousand of them), as well as the preparation of symbolic colorful and black ribbons and inflation of balloons had already absorbed most of the volunteers' time on the previous day.

 

On 10 October, already before 11 a.m., we set up a stand at the corner of Jasna and Świętokrzyska, in front of the main office of the European Union Representation. With us we had a Day against the Death Penalty Poster prepared by Blanka Łątka, bunches of black balloons and a table for signing the text of the letter, the same one as on Halina Bortowska's blog.  

 

 

The first signatories appeared immediately - people who usually already knew the campaign from TOK FM radio and the daily Gazeta Wyborcza or had heard about it from their friends.

 

The volunteers were supported by friends from the Journalist Workshops POLIS and the Thursday Club (Klub Czwartkowy) - Jerzy Sosnowski, Roman Kurkiewicz, Wojciech Tochman. Representatives of the media also turned up, including TVN and Canadian TV, following in the footsteps of German TV ARD, as well as many radio reporters.

 

 

Before noon, Mrs. Róża Thun from the Representation of the UE came out to join our picket. Mrs. Hanna Machińska from the Council of Europe also arrived and in the presence of the media read our letter opening the list of signatures. In her very warm statement, Mrs. Róża Thun mentioned a fact that is very important to us, i.e. that on the day against the death penalty, which is a day of consideration for human rights, we commemorate the anniversary of the death of Marek Nowicki, the cofounder of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.

 

 

Afterwards, up till 9 p.m. people continued to come up to sign the letter, as well as to talk with the participants of the picket. The conversations were friendly, personal confessions were made and arguments were expressed for commemorating this day together with all of Europe and for broader social dialogue – also with the supporters of the death penalty. We want them to know why we think otherwise. Several people criticized our campaign quite loudly and stubbornly, but without aggression. Others just skirted around us after throwing a glance at the poster.

 

 

 

All in all, we collected over 400 signatures on the spot. They were supplemented by the letters signed at Tuesday's rally in front of the presidential palace. In total, we have 1500 signatures. We are still trying to establish the accurate number. We are also working on the second book of signatures. It is still possible to sign it on Halina Bortnowska's blog.

 

 

We wish to thank everyone. We are delighted to see people united in good cause.

 

 

 

 

2007-10-11