About Elżbieta Podleśna
Born 1968. Elżbieta Podleśna is a Polish psychologist and social activist.
Elżbieta Podleśna (; born ), also known as Elzbieta Podlesna, is a Polish civil rights activist. She was a leading person in the Polish Women's Strike protests in 2017 and 2018. She has also worked as a psychotherapist.
Personal Podleśna lives in Warsaw. Speaking on why she demonstrates against fascist groups, Podleśna said:I cannot understand a situation in which a country in which concentration camps functioned, in which a huge proportion of society disappeared, in which our neighbours disappeared, can allow itself to have people marching with fascist symbols through its main streets in the capital city, who with their fists in the air call out for the death of enemies of the fatherland, for the death of anyone! I went up to those people and asked them: who are these enemies of the fatherland? Are you talking about me? And I heard – yes, we mean you, said directly into my eyes.
In July 2018, she sprayed "PZPR" on the windows of the parliamentary office of in Wąbrzeźno, as well as political offices in Golub-Dobrzyń. On the street before the offices she spray painted "Time for judgement". Podleśna said she acted since she was terrified by the actions of the Law and Justice (PiS) party and the changes to the state system in Poland. initially, Podleśna was charged with the crime of "promoting a totalitarian system" as well as vandalism, however the totalitarianism charge was dropped. At trial, she pleaded guilty to the vandalism charge. to protest an Easter display by the Catholic church that featured LGBT and gender as sins. In garbage cans throughout town she placed a list of bishops who allegedly protected priests accused of sexual abuses. While the names of suspects are redacted under Polish law until the conclusion of proceedings, Podleśna revealed her name to the media. Joachim Brudziński, the Polish Interior Minister and PiS party member, praised the arrest saying Podleśna's protest involved "the desecration of the image of Our Lady, which has been considered sacred by Poles for centuries". The Płock court ruled the arrest was legal, though unreasonable.
Following the events, the US Episcopal Church asked for permission to sell T-shirts bearing the Rainbow Madonna with proceeds allocated to the Polish transgender community.
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Important facts
People in Elżbieta Podleśna's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Elżbieta Podleśna's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Elżbieta Podleśna?
Polish civil rights activist (born 1967/1968)
When was Elżbieta Podleśna born?
Elżbieta Podleśna was born in 1968.
What is Elżbieta Podleśna's occupation?
Elżbieta Podleśna is a psychologist and social activist.
What nationality is Elżbieta Podleśna?
Elżbieta Podleśna is Polish.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Elżbieta Podleśna
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Elżbieta Podleśna. https://biography.guide/elzbieta-podlesna/
MLA: "Elżbieta Podleśna." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/elzbieta-podlesna/.
Chicago: "Elżbieta Podleśna." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/elzbieta-podlesna/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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