I recently participated in the European Society for Comparative Legal History Conference 2016 in Gdansk, Poland.
This was a robust 4-day conference that included plenary sessions and panels and debates and dinners and a concert and meetings with judges and lawyers and presidents of Poland -- programming from 8:00 AM until after 11:00 PM. And each day the conference was held in a different venue/town so that we could see and experience more of the region while we were there. It was truly exceptional.
I was also very much looking forward to visiting the European Center of Solidarity when traveling to Gdansk for the conference. I wanted to see the famous shipyard gate and learn more about the birthplace of the Solidarity movement.
I was delighted that -- after taking 3 planes to get to Gdansk -- after traveling 27 hours -- I dropped off my suitcase at the hotel -- and then went straight to the Solidarity museum to check in and register for the conference.
After I got my credential and my program and other conference materials, I had time to explore the exhibits before heading off on a van to participate in the Lawyers Debate at the Law School of the University of Gdansk.
Below are some pictures of the museums and exhibits.
You can learn more about the museum and its research library here:
 |
| The museum itself was impressive. This is the atrium that divides the research library from the permanent exhibits |
 |
| this is the monument to Shipyard Workers -- built a few months after the famous strike in 1980 and the creation of the independent Solidarity trade union -- in honor of the shipyard workers who were killed during the strike and demonstrations in 1970 |
 |
| This jacket, from a 20-year old shipbuilder, shows the bullet hole from the lethal shot that killed him |
 |
| On this wall, with the Solidarity logo, are white and red cards where visitors can leave messages with their thoughts about the museum and the movement |
 |
 |
| while on this military police vehicle you can watch a video of of demonstrators being attacked -- it was a very moving experience |
No comments:
Post a Comment