Indicator history

Racist and any-migrant speech is rather rare in official public life but it occurs from time to time. For instance, in 2009 a deputy appeal by the Head of the Office for Foreigners Affairs to shut down the refugee centre in Łomża. Citing supposed opinions of residents, deputy Kołakowski attempted to prove that the refugee centre caused numerous problems and was a financial drain on the city. Shortly after two Chechens were attacked in the city of Łomża - the victims linked this attack with this appeal.
Hate speech is present in the Internet. In 2010-2011 Wiedza Lokalna Association conducted project aimed to scan Internet content with regard to hate speech. It focused on verbal aggression against ethnic, sexual, religious and other minorities. In April 2011, nearly 10 million entries were examined on the message boards (forums) of the three largest portals: Onet.pl, Wp.pl and Gazeta.pl, of which more than 85,500 were classified as hostile language or hate speech. The most hostile entries related to Jews – 21,251, Russians – 17,871, homosexuals – 12,092, Germans – 9,911 and Muslims – 8,943. The following places were occupied by Africans – 3,438 entries, the Roma – 3,405 and Arabs – 2,920. In the entries concerning minorities, percentage-wise the most hostile contents were included in those that relate to Russians and Muslims (about 70% for each) and Chechens (68%).

Sources:
Fundacja Wiedza Lokalna, Minority report, http://www.raportmniejszosci.pl/
Agnieszka Mikulska, Rasizm w Polsce. Raport z badań wśród osób, które doświadczyły przemocy ze względu na swoje pochodzenie etniczne,  rasowe lub narodowe, Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka, Warszawa 2010.