43rd anniversary of Wujek Coal Mine pacification. Tribute to fallen miners

The anniversary began with a Mass at the Church of the Holy Cross in Katowice. In his homily, Bishop Sławomir Oder highlighted the responsibility to uphold the truth.

"By remembering the victims, we not only honor their memory but also commit ourselves to action. Truth is a gift we must protect and pass on. The fight for truth begins within ourselves: striving for honesty, solidarity, and opposing evil with good," said Bishop Oder.

Following the Mass, participants gathered at the Memorial Cross near the mine, where the national anthem was sung, and letters from dignitaries were read.

In her letter, Speaker of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska acknowledged the miners' sacrifice as a pivotal moment in Poland's struggle for sovereignty.

"The deaths of nine miners and injuries to dozens more represent a great sacrifice in our fight for freedom. Their protest on December 13, 1981, was a loud outcry against the oppression and violence of martial law," she wrote.

The Speaker pledged the Senate's commitment to preserving this memory as a warning against authoritarian rule and a tribute to the miners' courage and solidarity.

In his letter, Solidarity trade union leader Piotr Duda affirmed that the miners' sacrifice was not in vain: "Solidarity remains strong, consistently advocating for justice for the victims of communist repression and ensuring that the heroes of the Wujek Mine are never forgotten."

Duda criticized the state’s failure to fully address the crimes of the communist regime, calling out the protection of former officials and inadequate reparations for the victims. He warned against erasing the memory of past events and pledged that Solidarity would continue to fight for Poland's historical truth.

Before the 43rd anniversary of the pacification of the Wujek coal mine, a series of commemorative events underscored the solemnity of the occasion.

On Sunday evening, President Andrzej Duda laid flowers at the Memorial Cross honoring the fallen miners. The following morning, Karol Nawrocki, President of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), paid his respects in the same manner.

Later in the day, participants of the Run of the Nine Miners honored the victims by completing the symbolic race in their memory. At 11:00 a.m., the city of Katowice paused as sirens blared in the annual "Stop the City" initiative, reminding all of the sacrifices made during the tragic events of December 1981.

Despite some expressions of discontent during the ceremony, Wojciech Szwed, head of the Social Committee for the Memory of Wujek Miners, emphasized that all attendees paying tribute to the miners were welcome, regardless of their affiliations.

The strike at Wujek Mine began on December 14, 1981, as miners demanded the release of union leaders and protested against martial law. On December 16, authorities decided to suppress the protest by force.

The ZOMO special platoon, equipped with submachine guns, and militia forces stormed the mine, using tear gas, water cannons, and tanks to break through the barricades. Shots were fired at the miners, killing six on-site and three more later in the hospital.

The youngest victim was 19 years old, the oldest 48. Another 23 miners were wounded by gunfire.

The memory of Józef Czekalski, Krzysztof Giza, Ryszard Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Zenon Zając, Zbigniew Wilk, Andrzej Pełka, Jan Stawisiński, and Joachim Gnida - whose lives were taken during their protest - remains a powerful reminder of the cost of freedom.

Their sacrifice continues to inspire Poland's ongoing journey toward justice and democracy.