Business owners in Nový Bydžov outraged over upcoming DSSS march

In a few days a gathering and march by members and sympathizers of the Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS) through the town of Nový Bydžov will take place. Strong tensions can be felt among residents of the town as well as concerns over what Saturday’s maneuvers will look like. The police and town hall are taking joint measures as well as separate ones.

Business owners responsible for the operation of restaurants and shops are also afraid. “Certainly we are not opening on Saturday, but our display window is so large I don’t know how to cover it. We will definitely have our people inside to prevent damage,” one business owner said.

“I’m thinking over how to arrange it, whether I should close and what to do with the display windows, where to put the goods. I haven’t made a definite decision yet. Our shop is not on the direct route of the marches, but it is not far from them, so I have certain concerns about security,” one shop owner told news server Rychnovskýdeník.cz. “Right now I would be very interested to know who it was specifically in our town that had the ‘brilliant’ idea of inviting the Workers’ Party and other groups here. I would like to tell them a thing or two, and I am not the only one. The majority of residents are outraged by this gathering and the marches and are afraid,” she said.

Ivana Ježková, spokesperson for the Hradec Králové Regional Police, told Rychnovskýdeník.cz that police will beef up their patrols in the town in order to protect people’s property and ensure order. Police officers are monitoring the situation prior to the upcoming meetings. The town hall is also clearing away anything the marchers might be able to throw at one another. According to Mayor Pavel Louda, people will be warned not to park their cars in places where they might be damaged. The same applies to shops and display windows.