Collective action is critical.
ââŠSenior politicians from Polandâs ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) have distanced themselves from a controversial proposal to ban abortion, in the wake of a wave of mass protests across Poland that appears to have caught the government off guard.
JarosĆaw Gowin, the minister of science and higher education, said on Wednesday that the protests had âcaused us to think and taught us humilityâ.
Tens of thousands of people boycotted work and classes on Monday to protest against the proposals, which if enacted would impose a blanket ban on abortion, including in instances of pregnancy as a result of rape or incest.
Despite wretched weather, approximately 30,000 people, many dressed in black, had gathered in Warsawâs Castle Square, chanting âWe want doctors, not missionaries!â and carrying placards bearing messages like âMy Uterus, My Opinionâ, and âWomen Just Want to Have FUN-damental Rightsâ.
âThe protest was bigger than anyone expected â people were astonished,â said Agnieszka Graff, a commentator and activist. âWarsaw was swarming with women in black. It was amazing to feel the energy and the anger, the emotional intensity was incredible.â âŠâ - The Guardian, 5th Oct 2016