The 44th anniversary of the signing of the August Agreements was marked with a solemn Mass at the St. Stanisław Kostka Parish in Szczecin, Poland. The celebration continued in front of the Szczecin Shipyard gate, where the historical agreements were signed in 1980. The event was a poignant reminder of the Polish people’s struggle for freedom and the enduring legacy of the Solidarity movement. Dr. Karol Nawrocki, President of the Institute of National Remembrance, emphasized the importance of Solidarity’s ethos and the timeliness of its ideals. He highlighted how the August Agreements served as a testament to the Polish people’s commitment to freedom and democratic values. Following speeches, delegations laid flowers at the monument to the victims of December 1970 at the Szczecin Shipyard gate. President Andrzej Duda, in a letter read by his advisor Dr. hab. Marek Rymsza, expressed his hope that the spirit of August 1980 would continue to inspire future generations in Poland. The signing of the August Agreements, following a series of strikes throughout Poland, represented a significant victory for the Solidarity movement. The agreements secured the right to form independent trade unions, the release of political prisoners, and the establishment of a monument honoring the victims of the 1970 shipyard riots. This historic event ultimately led to the fall of communism and the transition to democracy in Poland.
Leave a comment
Leave a comment