Poland is a nation divided. On October, its constitutional tribunal ruled that terminating pregnancy due to fetal defects was unconstitutional, making abortion almost completely illegal in a country with strong influence of the Catholic Church and among Europe’s most restrictive laws on this and other social issues.
The abortion ruling sparked massive protests across the country, led by a young generation of Polish citizens. What is most notable, perhaps, is that the demonstrations continue, including Dec. 13 when a general strike was organized to coincide with the 39th anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland during the Communist era.
ZUMA photographer Grzegorz Banaszak captured an image of one young protester, bracing in the early winter cold of Warsaw with a glance of quiet determination.
