Because Freedom Has Its Price
During the night of 12–13 December 1981, the communist authorities unlawfully imposed martial law and deployed the military onto the streets in order to crush the democratic opposition and the Solidarity movement’s carnival of freedom. The regional commemorations of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Martial Law – to which Marshal Piotr Całbecki and President of the Regional Parliament Elżbieta Piniewska, as well as the Gdańsk branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, local government officials, regional structures of the Solidarity trade unions, and veterans’ and patriotic organizations of our region invite you – will take place on Friday and Saturday in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Włocławek, Inowrocław, Potulice, Chełmno, Chełmża, Łubianka, and Zławieś Wielka.
“Is it worthwhile today to return to those tragic events of 44 years ago? After all, we live in a free Homeland and a united Europe. I am among those who remember tanks in the streets, curfews imposed by the militia, the brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrations, internment, censorship, and restrictions on movement throughout the country. I believe we should speak about martial law for two reasons. Firstly because those who fought for our freedom deserve remembrance and respect. Secondly so that we do not forget that independence has its price. Let us meet during the Day of Remembrance events,” says Marshal Piotr Całbecki.
The Marshal of the Region will take part, among other events, in the traditional nighttime ceremony of laying flowers at the memorial plaque embedded in the façade of the academic church in Toruń (Friday, 12 December, 11:45 p.m.).
Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office
10 December 2025