17/11/2008
No to intolerance in Poznan, Poland and Europe
17 November 2008
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen today condemned the assault yesterday on two PES activists following a demonstration yesterday in Poznan, Poland. Two PES activists were followed and assaulted as they left the demonstration because they were carrying a placard that said ‘Diversity YES Intolerance NO’.
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said “Our activists were attacked because they were demonstrating peacefully for tolerance. I am very glad that they were not seriously injured, and my first thoughts are with them. I thank them for their bravery and I wish them a full and fast recovery from their injuries and their undoubted shock.”
“I also have a message for the cowards who carried out the attack. We will not be intimidated by this violence. Not in Poznan, not anywhere. It will only strengthen our determination to keep making the case for respect for diversity. We will continue to say Diversity YES, Intolerance NO throughout Europe. Intolerance has no place in Poznan, no place in Poland and no place in Europe. The whole point of the European Union is respect between nations and people. Europe has outlawed discrimination between sexes and between races. Those who seek to create divisions and hatred are living in the past.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Julian Scola, Communications Advisor - Media & Campaigns
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels
Mobile +32 486 117 394
julian.scola@pes.org
