First, laying flowers at the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers, then giving an oration in front of the gate, and finally entering the former shipyard through the gate.
photo: Dominik Paszlinski
The strike victory in August was the beginning of freedom
Historical gate No. 2 Gdańsk Shipyard is celebrated on Thursday, August 31, the 43rd anniversary of the end of the strike, thanks to which the Solidarity workers union was founded. The social and political changes that began at that time led to the collapse of the Soviet bloc, and then a change in the geopolitical order of Central and Eastern Europe. Poland regained its independence in the late 1980s, became a member of NATO in 1999, and joined the European Union five years later.
By the fall of 1981, some 10 million Poles had signed up for Solidarity – the first organization in the Eastern Bloc to be independent from the communist authorities.
The 43rd anniversary of the strike victory at the Gdańsk Shipyard was attended by heroes of the independence uprising, including Lech Wałęsa, Henryka Krzywonos-Strycharska, Jerzy Borowczak and Bogdan Lis.
The opening of the shipyard gate is a tradition that has been held since 2014.
What did the striker ask for?
The signatories to the August Agreement called for unity among Poles Henryka Krzywonos-Strycharska.
Celebration of the city commemorating the outbreak of World War II in Gdańsk
– They asked me today how I feel. I’ll tell you how I feel. I didn’t see the 10 million people who were with us then. Both in front of the shipyard and in the shipyard. Today we are divided. Therefore, I ask you: think over everything. Let’s stand like 1980, shoulder to shoulder. Don’t let a single person go crazy, he said.
What did the strikers fight for in 1980?
Bogdan Lizdeputy chairman of the Intercompany Strike Committee in 1980 at the Gdańsk Shipyard, recalls that the workers’ protest had lofty ideals.
– 43 years ago, behind me, at the Gdańsk Shipyard, there was a fight between shipyard workers and factory representatives from all over the coast and Poland for the sake of human dignity. That is the basic premise, but also for freedom and democracy. And in the background also about honesty and decency in social life. We won that fight then. Over the last few decades, we have become accustomed to the fact that there is democracy and freedom. We think that’s normal. And suddenly we woke up in a country ruled by trolls. They wanted and still want to take from us everything that we earned in this shipyard. But October 15th we can change it during the election – said Bogdan Lis.
Don’t sleep or they will beat us
Another speaker also touched on the upcoming parliamentary elections.
– Right now the most important thing is the election. For the ideals we have in August, when we are in solidarity, to win, we must go to the elections and vote for the democratic opposition – he said Jerzy Borowczakone of the organizers of the historic strike.
Łętowska, Świerczek, Owsiak and Wałęsa – Freedom of Speech Medal 2023. PHOTO AND VIDEO
Agnieszka Owczarzakchairman of the Gdańsk City Council, stressed that today we need responsibility towards our country and courage to change.
– The autumn elections will be very important for the future of our country. And Poland needs responsible and honest people. It needs people who will serve the nation’s development, not just members of one party. It takes people who won’t walk into other people’s lives and intimacy with their shoes on. This country needs people who can guarantee equal rights for women and men, equal treatment of all people, regardless of who they love and what religion they profess. October 15th may it be another day of change in Poland. Do not sleep. Go to the election, because they will beat us – he appealed.
All of Poland is at the gate today
Mieczyslaw ReceiptMarshal Pomerania, pointed that out August agreement was a turning point in Polish history.
Some time after crossing gate number 2
photo: Dominik Paszliński/ gdansk.pl
– The common Polish struggle, united in the spirit of Solidarity, laid the foundation for the changes that defined the modern Polish form. Among us there are officers of the voivodship, many city presidents, mayors, heads of communes. All of Poland is here today. True solidarity should unite, not divide. It is to look for what to build together, not to exclude. Because Solidarity is a helping hand to others, not a fist – added the local government official.
Who will complete the Solidarity revolution?
He spoke about the fact that August 31, 1980 was a breakthrough not only in Polish history. Kerski BasilDirector European Solidarity Center.
Medal of thanks to Emile and Zbigniew Brzeziński. He will be picked up by the US ambassador to Poland
– So the opening of the gate is the beginning of the road against all the bad changes, wars and divisions that occurred in the 20th century. Today, the younger generation faces the challenge of completing the Solidarity revolution, said the ECS director.
Then how do they communicate?
Finally, he spoke up Aleksandra DulkiewiczMayor of Gdansk.
– Standing in front of Shipyard Gate No. 2 historical, on the anniversary of the signing of the Gdańsk Agreement, every year I am tormented by the question – how can people from two different worlds be talking at the table? In addition, they negotiated a deal. I thought about this longingly. We have long lived in separate tribes. Constant conflict gets in the way of negotiations, often simple conversations. Even celebrating together was out of the question – he says.
According to Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, just reminding us that solidarity begins with respect for the dignity of other humans.
Thanks to Lech Wałęsa
– Expressing kindness, empathy, compassion, readiness to help, but also moral and material support for ideas or attitudes represented by other people, groups, nations. I thank Lech Wałęsa for this lesson in solidarity. Especially him, because this year he is celebrating his 80th birthday (Sept. 29 – editor’s note) and the 40th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize – said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.
At this point, the assembled people began loudly shouting the name of Solidarity’s first leader and singing “100 years” to him.
Arrived at the celebrations at Westerplatte
Thanks for that, you are my hero. We still have to get along, but how? Aleksandra Dulkiewicz ended her speech with a question.
Before the ceremony, garlands and flowers are placed at gate No.2 Fallen Shipyard Worker Monument.
“Reader. Future teen idol. Falls down a lot. Amateur communicator. Incurable student.”
