Wiesław Józef Sporyszkiewicz
Wiesław Józef Sporyszkiewicz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 March 1952 |
| Died | 26 December 2008 |
| Citizenship | Poland |
| Known for | Political activist Trade unionist |
| Awards | Cross of Freedom and Solidarity Order of Polonia Restituta |
Wiesław Józef Sporyszkiewicz (11 March 1952 – 26 December 2008) was a Polish trade unionist and political activist affiliated with the Solidarity movement during the communist era in Poland.[1] He was posthumously awarded the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity and Order of Polonia Restituta for his political activism.[2][3][4]
Early life and profession
Sporyszkiewicz was born in Strzelce Opolskie, Poland. He trained as a miner and later worked as a bus driver for the PKS (State Motor Transport Company) in his hometown. He became politically active during the early 1980s, amid a nationwide movement for democratic reform.[1]
Solidarity movement
In 1980, Sporyszkiewicz joined the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ "Solidarność") at his workplace. In February 1981, he was elected chairman of the Solidarity workplace committee.[1]
Following the imposition of martial law in Poland in December 1981, the PKS station was militarized. On 1 May 1982, Sporyszkiewicz co-organized a leaflet campaign supporting Solidarity. As a result, he was arrested by the Security Service (SB) and formally detained on 5 May 1982.[1]
On 12 June 1982, the Provincial Court in Opole sentenced him to three years in prison and two years of deprivation of public rights for continuing banned union activities. He served 10 months across several facilities, including in Strzelce Opolskie, Opole, and Wrocław, before being pardoned by the State Council of the People's Republic of Poland.[1]
From 1982 to 1985, Sporyszkiewicz was subject to surveillance by the Security Service under the file name "Mazurek." He later emigrated to the United Kingdom, where he lived until his death on 26 December 2008.[5]
Recognition
In 2023, Sporyszkiewicz was posthumously awarded the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity and Order of Polonia Restituta by the President of Poland for his contributions to the struggle for independence and human rights.[2][4]
A biography of his life, titled FREEDOM Value and Price: Wieslaw Jozef Sporyszkiewicz the Dreamer – Political Prisoner in Communist Poland, was authored by Professor Myra Houser and the Sporyszkiewicz family.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Narodowej, Instytut Pamięcie. "Sporyszkiewicz Wiesław". Encyklopedia Solidarności (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-06-02. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ a b "Odznaczeni KWiS". odznaczeni-kwis.ipn.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ "MONITOR POLSKI DZIENNIK URZĘDOWY RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ" (PDF). isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ a b "MONITOR POLSKI DZIENNIK URZĘDOWY RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ POLSKIEJ" (PDF). isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ Obywatelski, Autor (2013-12-26). "5 rocznica śmierci Wiesława Sporyszkiewicza". Niezależna Gazeta Obywatelska (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ^ Prof. Myra Houser and The Sporyszkiewicz Family (2 April 2025). FREEDOM Value and Price: Wieslaw Jozef Sporyszkiewicz the Dreamer Political Prisoner in Communist Poland Life story. Amazon. ASIN B0F3FLMBN4.