Emergent political spaces in the post-socialist city: Solidarity Square, Szczecin

Abstract

On 3 October 2016, Black Protest demonstrations against a total abortion ban were held in more than 140 Polish cities. This article discusses how the Black Protest in Szczecin's Solidarity Square has created a new space of protest, which has been transformed from an official commemorative site into a vibrant political space. The author has argued that the emergence of this new political space was made possible by the local symbolic, social, and spatial protest resources. The organizational resources and meanings that were assigned to the protest venue took precedence over the technical aspects of the protest site, such as its accessibility or central location. In view of the abovementioned features, Solidarity Square has gained a new, non-spatial meaning, which evokes emotions, generates discussions, and transforms patterns of local protest behaviour.