Presentation by Former President of Poland and Solidarność Leader Lech Wałęsa in Florida

 Lech Wałęsa,Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Poland, is a leading symbol of the fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe. He organized strikes in Gdańsk, which led to the establishment of the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc.

Lech Wałęsa’s dissident activities go back to 1968, when he encouraged workers at the Gdańsk Shipyard to boycott official rallies condemning student strikes. His tenacious negotiations led to the establishment of the Solidarity Free Independent Trade Union, the first bloodless victory in Polish history. Two years later in 1983, Wałęsa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wałęsa’s determination and courage later led to a compromise with the Communist regime, resulting in the establishment of the first non-Communist government on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain. In December 1990, Lech Wałęsa became the örst democratically elected President of Poland.

Today, Wałęsa continues to be a spokesperson for solidarity. He travels the world, retelling the story of the non-violent struggle for peace and democracy. Through his work, he calls for the building of a modern world founded on universal values.

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