This is confusing.

I had heard that Poland’s Independence Day march had been banned this year, but it turns out that it not only happened but more than quadrupled in turnout:

“More than 200,000 people are estimated to have taken part in a controversial independence-day march through central Warsaw on Sunday, after a last-minute agreement was struck between senior politicians and the event’s far-right organisers. The March of Independence, organised by nationalist and far-right groups and held annually in the Polish capital on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of the re-establishment of the country’s independence in 1918, has grown dramatically in scale over the past decade, attracting activists from across Europe. Last year’s event, which attracted an estimated 60,000 people, received international condemnation for the presence of racist and xenophobic banners and slogans and violence directed at counterprotesters. …”

Poland’s leaders threw in the towel and participated in the march:

“WARSAW, Poland—Far-right movements from across Europe joined a massive march here to celebrate Poland’s 100th anniversary of independence, in what has become an annual gathering point for Europe’s political fringe. Faced with a rally that has become too large to ban—more than 100,000 joined Sunday’s march—and too politically charged to ignore, President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki walked in front of Sunday’s march. In return for their involvement, they asked organizers to refrain from hate speech and…”

Unsurprisingly, The New York Times is pissed:

“Wreathed in an eerie red mist from burning flares, thousands of nationalists chanted: “Use a sickle, use a hammer, smash the Red rabble.” Some shouted: “White Poland.” They marched holding a banner with the slogan “God, Honor, Fatherland” and thousands of Polish flags. But some wore balaclavas and waved the green flags of the ultranationalist group National Revival of Poland. Also visible were the flags of Forza Nuova, an Italian neofascist group. No members of the opposition or leading public figures who are not close to the government attended the event, which the police said attracted 250,000 people, and which critics said was a surrendering of Independence Day to radical groups. The procession — one of scores of events across Europe to mark the 100 years since the end of World War I — followed days of legal turmoil after the mayor of Warsaw banned the Independence March organized every year by far-right groups. Among them are the National Radical Camp, which human rights activists have for years said should be made illegal. …”

It appears a court ruling intervened.

President Trump sent out a tweet to congratulate the Based Poles celebrating their independence. If last year’s march was a triumph for fascism and a blow to liberal democracy, what do you call this?

Poland, a great country – Congratulations on the 100th Anniversary of your Independence. I will never forget my time there! pic.twitter.com/gEme6McF1x — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2018

We are honored to celebrate with #Poland ?years of its independence #PL100. Yet, neo-fascists such as ONR should have no place in public life, let alone at a celebration of Poland's independence w/ highest gov't officials in attendence. — AJC Central Europe (@AJC_CE) November 11, 2018

80 years ago they terrorised Jews and called them 'parasites' that should be removed from Poland. This year they told President Duda to 'take off your yarmulke' and called for an ethnically pure Poland. Today, Duda and the PiS government will join ONR's independence march. pic.twitter.com/iSEZ3hKUcy — Daniel Tilles ? (@danieltilles1) November 11, 2018

It is a watershed moment for me. 27 years I've lived in Poland. I never ever thought I'd see the Polish PM and President publicly marching alongside, and therefore endorsing, the fascists from ONR and MW . Disgusting. Pictures @crsdavies et al. pic.twitter.com/ECrHliQz5a — Andy Eddles #FBPE (@Poland_EXPATS) November 11, 2018

Fascists marched in Warsaw today chanting "Poland, white and Catholic." Their far-right prime minister led the fascist march. This is the fascism that capitalist "democracy" brought to EU member Poland after the counterrevolutionary overthrow of socialismhttps://t.co/9Nui4uyfyk — Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 11, 2018

Dear @guyverhofstadt, have you seen those scary pictures from Poland yet? 300,000 nazis and fascists in the capital city of Poland! Can you please do something? You're the last hope for humanity! pic.twitter.com/gYBwY4RjJJ — Artur Ceyrowski (@fideista) November 11, 2018

Polish troops will literally be marching side-by-side with the far-right in Poland's capital. I am speechless. pic.twitter.com/gtJVSJNfeA — Christian Davies (@crsdavies) November 11, 2018

Scary: 200 000 nationalists and neo-Nazis march in Warsaw, Poland. pic.twitter.com/Bxj6tgin0y — Fabian Eberhard (@FabianEberhard) November 11, 2018

I’ve never felt or seen anything like it in my life, glorious -happy Independence Day Poland 2018 #MarszNiepodleg?o?ci2018 pic.twitter.com/IukZvUC0gP — Stefan Molyneux (@StefanMolyneux) November 11, 2018

100 years ago today, in 1918, Poland ?? regained independence after 123 years of foreign domination. #PL100 pic.twitter.com/nOfIpoKK2x — Jakub Krupa (@JakubKrupa) November 11, 2018

Italian fascists in Poland's capital. Can anyone remind me which side they were on when this country was being destroyed? pic.twitter.com/hIxEnWv7CU — Christian Davies (@crsdavies) November 11, 2018

Happy 100th Independence Day, Poland! ?????? Meanwhile in Warsaw: pic.twitter.com/DTxBEnthDh — Piotr Rojek (@piotrrojek) November 11, 2018



