Poland strongly condemns racism, but defends weekend march

WARSAW – Poland's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it strongly condemns racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic ideas, but insisted that a large weekend march by nationalists in Warsaw was largely an expression of patriotic values.

The ministry said that the march Saturday on the Independence Day holiday was "a great celebration of Poles, differing in their views, but united around the common values of freedom and loyalty to an independent homeland."

The event was organized by groups that trace their roots to radical nationalist pre-World War II anti-Semitic groups. Some 60,000 people took part, including families with children and older people. But there were also young men carrying banners with messages including "White Europe of brotherly nations."