'Keep it Up!' says Obama to Polish anti-racism association, Never Again, during a meeting with the US President.

US President Barack Obama offered encouragement to leaders of the Never Again association last week during a meeting with a delegation of Polish leaders and civil society organisations.

The meeting in Warsaw on May 28th, during the US leader’s trip to European capitals saw him meet with the Polish President, Prime Minister, parliamentarians and NGO’s at the Presidential Palace.

As the official part of the meeting ended, Barack Obama approached the civic leaders and greeted them individually. Dr Rafal Pankowski, a co-founder of the 'NEVER AGAIN' Association and coordinator of its East Europe Monitoring Centre was one of them. When the US President learned a member of a Polish anti-racist organization was present, he reacted warmly, shook his hand and said, “What you do is very important. Keep it up!”

“I am honoured and moved. It was a very special experience” said Pankowski after the meeting at the Presidential Palace.

The NEVER AGAIN Association is an anti-racist educational and monitoring organization established in Poland in 1996. Since 2009, they have co-ordinated the FARE East European Development Project supported by UEFA in the lead up to EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

 

More information: Never Again.

A version of this article is also available in Polish.

Published 31/05/2011