Defend the Workers The following is the appeal that was issued by the Committee to Support the Workers Victimized by Repression After the Events of June 25, 1976. If was signed by: J. Andrzejewski, S. Baranczak, L. Cohn, J. Kuron, E. Lipinski, J.J. Lipski, A, Macierewicz, P. Naimski, A. Pajdak, J. Rybicki, A. Steinsbergowa, A. Szczypiorski, Mgr. J.J. Zieja, W. Ziembinski. A well known actress, H. Mikolajska, joined the committee several days later. The revolt of the workers against the price increoses, which reflected the reaction of the entire population, has been met with extremely brutal repressive measures. In Ursus, Radom, and other cities masses of demonstrators were arrested and beaten, not to mention the layoffs, which, like the arrests, especially affect the families of those victimized by the repression. These measures reflect total contempt for the law on the part of the official organs of the regime. The courts have rendered their verdicts without any evidence being presented. And the layoffs are in violation of the labor code. Things have gone so far that people have been made to give forced declarations. Unfortunately, such methods are not new in our country It is sufficient to
recall the repressive measures taken against people who had signed letters protesting the modification of the constitution: some were expelled from universities, others were subjected to illegal interrogations and various sorts of blackmail. But it has been a long time since repression has been so massive and brutal. For the first time in several years, physical violence has been used during interrogations. The victims of the current repression can in no way rely on the aid of the organs that are supposed to defend them, such as the trade unions, whose activities are nearly non-existent. The social institutions have aiso refused to extend any It is thus incumbent upon the population to play this role, since those who have been arrested were defending everybody's interests. The only way for the population to defend itself against the non-application of the law is to resort to mutual aid and solidarity. That is why the undersigned have decided to found the Committee to Support the Workers, in order to stimulate this indispensable defense on the judicial, financial, and medical levels. We must know the full truth about the cases of repression. We are convinced that only full knowledge of the methods employed by the regime will permit an effecfive defense. Consequently, we ask all those who have been victimized by repression or who know of such cases to please transmit this information to the members of the committee. To our knowledge, 160,000 zlotys have alreody been collected to aid the workers. But the needs are much greater, and only an initiative taken by the entire population can satisfy them. We must organize ourselves in order to be able to aid victims wherever they may be. In each city, each factory, we must find courageous people who will come to the aid of the workers and establish collective support. The measures of repression adopted agairst the workers are contrary to human rights as recognized by internafional and Polish law: the right to work, the right to strike, and freedom of expression, assembly, and demonstration. That is why the committee, in accordance with the resolution of the episcopal conference of September 9, 1976, demands that amnesty be granted all those who have been arrested and sentenced and that they be rehired on their jobs. The committee calls upon the whole population to support these demands. We are deeply convinced that in founding this committee we are fulfilling our duty as citizens and human beings, for the good of the country, the nation, and humanity.
Appeal of the Thirteen Intellectuals Below is the text of the