Hlohovec to Host Protest by Far-right and Silent Anti-protest

Hlohovec, May 16 (TASR) - Hlohovec (Trnava region) mayor Miroslav Kollar as a private citizen will organise a silent protest against fascism, racism and xenophobia on Friday, May 17, at the St. Michael's Square in response to a protest gathering against the trampling of basic rights and freedoms announced by far-right People's Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) for the same day, TASR learnt on Thursday. "I called upon people of Hlohovec to express their view via a silent protest. We will gather at 5.30 p.m. and read the names of 700 inhabitants of Hlohovec exterminated in a WW2 massacre. They'll be read out by actors of Nitra New Theatre," Kollar told TASR. The LSNS protest is slated to begin at 6 p.m. "Our event will finish by then; we don't plan to disturb the course of the protest registered with authorities," added Kollar. About ten days ago, LSNS announced plans to hold a rally at one of Hlohovec hotels. The mayor wanted to ask the hotel owner not to provide his premises to the far-right party, but before he could do so, the owner cancelled the event on his own. "I appreciate and respect his civic stance, with which he surely hasn't made many friends as a businessman," said Kollar. mf