500,000 march in Warsaw

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Over 500,000 people filled the streets of Warsaw on Nov. 3 in a funeral procession for the slain pro-Solidarity priest, Jerzy Popieluszko. For nearly 12 hours, the St. Stanislas quarter of the city became transformed into one gigantic demonstration in support of the outlawed trade union. Hundreds of red and white banners, thousands of badges, and the presence of large union delegations from every corner of the country were clear evidence that Solidarity has not been silenced.

Popieluszko had been an outspoken supporter of the banned trade union— most of his parishioners were steel workers at the Huta Warszawa plant. On Oct. 19 he was kidnapped by three men who, it was later disclosed, were members of the Polish secret police. On Oct. 26, Captain Jan Piotrowski confessed to killing the well-known priest on the grounds that "he was sowing dissension among his parishioners."

The mass protests had forced the government to publicly acknowledge its direct role in this assassination.

Three days after Popieluszko's disappearance, the Provisional Coordinating Committee of Solidarity (TKK), issued statement condemning the regime 1 i responsibility in this kidnapping.

ated:

"This disappearance is not an isolated event. Since Dec. 13, 1981, similar acts have been perpetrated against supporters of Solidarity. The list of victims of the state of siege is long. It includes many who died or were "disappeared" at the hands of the security forces while on strike, at a peaceful demonstration, or simply while at church. Now there is an addition to the list: It is a priest who was kidnapped by "unknown" people. All of this demonstrates that state terror has become a stable trait of political life in Poland."

The massive outpouring of anger against the ruling bureaucracy is proof that three years of General Jaruzelski's "normalization" have not succeeded in defeating the Polish working class. The funeral procession in Warsaw, as well as the numerous one-hour strikes called to protest the killing-such as the one called in Gdansk by Andrzej Gwiazda and Anna Walentynowicz-are evidence that Solidarity is very much alive. TUC (Trades Union Congress) conference, Heathfield explained this further when she said, "The women's activity is a means of awakening and uniting the whole of the labor movement at the grassroots. Our activity has, I think, brought a lot of men into the strike. And when we win, it will be a victory for everyone. It will wipe out forever the image of the wife who's very willing to escort her husband across the picket line ".

jobs and mining communities.

Statement of aims - To consolidate the national the NUM in the present struggle to munities.

built up during the 1984 miners' strike.

at all levels.

jobs, health and education.

- To promote and develop - To publicise all activities SOCIALIST ACTION