In the march of 1996, the time in which all tragic affairs took place, Tomek was 21 years old student of Technical School in Czestochowa, simultaneously working in home town of Radomsko. Radomsko, in district of Lodz is 50 thousand town with high unemployment; one of few attractions are matches of local football team. Since it managed to get in Second League, the most aggressive part of it's fans had shaven its heads and estabilished local branch od right extremist party Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski (National Poland Revival). There appeared graffiti like 'Poland for Poles', 'Jews into gas' etc on the walls of Radomsko; young nationalists started to 'clean' the streets of town of unwished elements.

The 'power' which skinheads presented impressed most of young people in the town - only few did not submit. Tomek and his friends looked different than the pattern imposed by them, the didn't want to submit, so the faced their aggression. Mariusz Zych, a friend of Tomek is a cripple of 2nd grade (in 3 grade scale). He was attacked so frequent, that he was forced to construct special armour, which protect his body. Skinheads attacked without any remorse, they used baseball bats, scalpels; they always attacked in group. 

Tomek needed to pay particular attention when he was returning back to his home from bus station, because skins always waited for him. While beaten, often he looked at the back of last bus home, but he can't move because of pain. He was forced to spent many nights on the bus station. Tomek and his friends were complaining at the police. When the older brother of Tomek, Wlodek appeared at the police station; policeman looked at his coloured hair and asked They did not kill you yet?; when they showed the marks of beating, police did not react "It is too small, there is nothing to record". On the 21th of March antifascist organisations planed a demo in the day of International Day of Fighting with Racism in Lodz. Since that day nazi attacks growed stronger, on the walls appeared graffiti threating death to antifascists.

Threats became reality very soon. Tomek also was a victim, one day 2 skinheads catched him, 2 others threated him with a knife to put out his eyes. Fear and desperation impose a will of fighting back in antifascist. They decided to group themselves to frighten their oppressors. In a group of 17, they ambushed nazis in they meeting place. The fight was very short (only dozens of seconds) but ended tragically. In the mess of fight Daniel Switon was deadly hurt with a knife. Police encouraged with a fact of quick recognition of fight, participators, didn't care of proper protection of proofs. Until this day the police is not sure if the knife, which was found in Tomek's home, was in fact a instrument of murder. In the place of fight they have found another. During the case, no one had made any expert's report. Until this day it's not clear which knife was used to kill Daniel.

Such doubts, according to rule of supposed innocence, should be considered in favour of accused. But the things gone in a different way, court could not perform the run of fight; the sentenced was based of suppositions and circumstantial evidences. The court did not admit, that aggressive reaction of Tomek and his friends was caused by long oppresion and lack of interessment of police, were extentuating circumstances.

In our opinion we think that sentence for Tomek Wilkoszewski is unjust, for it's harshness it's deeply wrongful. In many small towns in Poland, situation is very like in Radomsko. Last incidents in Germany show clearly, where leads the ignorance of neofascist violence and treating it as a 'subcultural war'. Neoliberal way of transformation imposed by the Polish government, caused high unemployment and lack of perspectives for the future, which leads many young people in the right extremist organisations.

Please send some words of protest against unjust sentence, demand cassation and justiful trial for Tomek to the Chairman of Supreme Court up to 27 of September

Chairman of Supreme Court Lech Gardocki Pl. Krasinskich 2/4/6 00-951 Warszawa 41 fax. ++48 22 5309100 
e-mail: ppsek@sn.pl

Tomek needs also your direct support (letters, postcards, some literature). Write him your words of support!

Tomek Wilkoszewski Zaklad Karny ul. Orzechowa 5 98-200 SIERADZ Poland

Please, note that any case in Supreme Court must be conducted by attorney, in Polish circumstances it's very expensive. Tomek's family is in debts now, ABC is supporting them - we gave them last month another 1500 PLN (1$ is around 4,5 PLN). Attorney got 6000... If you can support us in any way - it will be very appreciated!

ABC//ACK Po box 6 60-966 Poznan 5 Poland

Our account for foreign values:
bank address: PEKAO BP XX Oddzial Poznan ul. Stary Rynek 44 61722 POZNAN POLAND

swift code: BPKOPLPWAPOA 10204085-5999100-270-44787

owner: MAREK PIEKARSKI

Friends of Tomek & ABC Poland

written by Sanczo/ ACK Poznan translated by Pomierz/ ACK Trojmiasto pomierz@poczta.onet.pl