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Boycott Assumes Serious Character; Prevent Customers from Entering Jewish Stores

November 18, 1932
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The systematic boycott agitation against the Jews conducted by the anti-Semitic National Democrats assumed a serious practical form in a number of Jewish districts of Warsaw where customers were prevented from entering Jewish stores and Jewish passersby were attacked.

In the Jewish tailoring district on Miodova Street, force was used to prevent customers from entering Jewish stores. Similar picketing occurred on Bielanska, Wiezbowa and Krakauer streets.

The pickets were students armed with sticks. Such a panic was created that the Jews closed their stores.

The police made no effort to inter-vene or to confiscate the boycott literature distributed.

The leaflets declared: “When you buy from Jews you support the Communists and feed the enemies of Poland. There are in Poland four million rich Jews, 400,000 unemployed Poles!”

A clash between the pickets and Jewish students occurred in one of the districts when the provocation of the anti-Semites led to a fight. Only then did the police intervene. One National Democratic student and one Jewish student, Nathan Biderman, age 22, were arrested.

The Polish student was released after identification while the Jewish student was held, and in accordance with the decision of the investigating judge transferred to the prison fortress, Pawiak. He faces a two year sentence.

The “Gazeta Warszawska,” organ of the National Democratic Party, accuses Biderman of leading a “Jewish attack against the Poles.”

The chairman of the Jewish Traders Association, Deputy Wisclicki, has made representations to the Minister of Interior concerning the boycott. The Minister has promised to increase the police guard stationed on Miodova Street and not to permit any acts of violence.

It is learned that the boycott of the Jews is to be carried out according to a plan and will involve various business enterprises at a time. Thus beginning with the school term, the book shop district was picketed and now the tailoring section is to be similarly treated.

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