Mayor's killing in Poland sparks anger against hate speech
Source: Associated Press
Gera, Associated Press
Updated 4:11 pm CST, Wednesday, January 16, 2019
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poles on Wednesday heatedly condemned the power of hate speech to trigger real-life violence after the assassination of a popular liberal mayor, with many calling for stronger actions against those who threaten others.
Not only did the killer, an ex-convict, take the life of the 53-year-old Gdansk mayor, Pawel Adamowicz, but he stabbed him during a popular fundraising concert by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, which raises money for life-saving medical equipment.
Both the mayor and the organization are prominent symbols of openness and tolerance, leaving many Poles to interpret the attack as a double blow to those values.
Investigators are checking to see if the assailant, who was recently released from prison, has psychiatric problems. He stabbed Adamowicz three times in the heart and abdomen and told the crowd Sunday evening that it was revenge against Civic Platform, the now-opposition party that was in power when he was imprisoned for bank robberies.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Polish-parliament-honors-slain-Gdansk-mayor-with-13537517.php
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