Solidarity protest draw 20,000 and resulted in gridlock in Warsaw

About 20,000 trade unionists marched in Warsaw on Friday to protest against government policies which they blame for economic stagnation and record unemployment. The protest highlighted the declining popularity of the government just weeks before the referendum on whether to join the EU. "The terrible economic situation keeps getting worse, people have no jobs and the government is doing nothing about it," said Józef Dziki a leader of the Solidarity union, which organized the demonstration. Armed with drums, hooters and firecrackers, the protesters marched from several sites to meet at government headquarters in central Warsaw, paralyzing traffic in the city. (Gazeta Wyborcza, April 26-27, p. 1; Reuters) A.K.