"Let's not build any more pig farms in our minds." Czech lawmaker Ivan Bartoš warns against indifference to hatred in speech for the commemorative ceremony in Lety u Písku

In his remarks, Bartoš warned against the rise of authoritarian regimes and the relativization of historical truths. He emphasized that hatred and injustice are gaining strength today in the world and that “pig farms in our minds” still go up in places where instead of living memory, indifference takes over.

News server Romea.cz is publishing his speech here in full translation.

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Speech by Ivan Bartoš, Lety u Písku, Czech Republic, 11 May 2025

Dear Friends, Survivors and their Relatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,

“There is no truth without overcoming lies, there is no good without overcoming evil, there is no success without effort and exertion, there is no victory without struggle, there is no salvation without sacrifice, there is no immortality without death.” Those words were spoken by František Kovář, the third Patriarch of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, in a sermon in 1946, the first year after the Second World War.

Those words were recently quoted during the commemoration of the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Havlíčkův Brod. I am thinking of them because they remind us that truth and justice require bravery and constancy. It is exactly here, at the site of today’s reverent remembrance in Lety u Písku, that we should all have this message in our hearts.

Today we are standing on land where, more than 80 years ago, the Nazis pushed 1,295 people into this concentration camp – Roma and Sinti, of whom at least 336 were murdered here. These are victims whose lives were destroyed by hatred and violence.

I want to emphasize that this place is not just about a tragic past. It is a call to realize our responsibility. As was the case yesterday, so today we must have the courage to face the dark sides of our history and our present. Whoever incites hatred, discrimination, or casts doubt on human dignity is a reflection of the worst the human spirit can produce. Unfortunately, just as in past periods of time, authoritarian regimes are on the rise today as well, oppressing minorities, trampling freedom, and doing their best to silence the truth. Atrocities and lawlessness are also happening in the world today. War is being waged the world over, even in Europe. Even today, people are living in the horrible conditions brought about by war, or are in captivity, where their lives mean nothing to their captors. Even today, people are being tortured.

Just a few years ago, the absurd pig farm built by the communists was still standing on this site in Lety. That farm denied the dignity due to those who were seeking justice and a last refuge here. When I stood here in 2017 for the first time, I believed that even if we cannot reverse or undo what happened here, we can still lift some human dignity up from the dust. That has succeeded. Thanks to the work, the constancy, and the determination of many, the farm has been removed, and instead a dignified memorial now stands to the victims, despite the fact that the very existence of this concentration camp and the suffering of the people in it were recently denied, even by eminent politicians in our country. As it turned out, the struggle for truth and justice is our common task after all. Thank you all for that.

As we commemorate 80 years from the end of the Second World War this week, let’s realize that the lessons of that past still need to be learned today. Whether that be here, in Lety u Písku, in our society, or in the world, we must not allow hatred and lies to win support again. We must not allow any more pig farms to be built in our minds instead of places of living memory of the struggle for truth, justice, and humanity. That historical struggle cost millions of lives. We must be alert and determined to defend the values that make us human beings. This is not just about remembrance in this place, but also about our everyday lives and our possibilities.

This place reminds us that justice, dignity, and respect are values which it makes sense to stand up for, even if you’re an “ordinary person” like Čeněk, Míra, Jožka, Katka and others. “Ordinary” people died here, too. That’s why it is so important to commemorate and remember those who died here – and at the same time, to vigorously stand up against all forms of discrimination and oppression which are happening today and can happen in the future.

Today’s commemoration in Lety u Písku is not just a tribute to the victims, but to the determination to live in truth and justice. This place, and the journey towards restoring its dignity, should inspire us to actions leading to genuine solidarity, respect, and equality for all.

During the first Saturday this May, I was walking with my son to get an ice cream on Náměstí Míru in Prague, and a friendly stranger came up to me. He was what many would consider a completely “ordinary” person. We spoke about the world and politics, about the war, about the Czech Republic and Europe. He said something extraordinary to me:  “Ivan, history does not repeat. Similar kinds of people repeat.”   

Let’s stand together for genuine humanity, because genuine humanity is just, free, and dignified. Let’s stand against those who have never acted and do not act in that spirit. The future might turn out to be a good one if we do.

Thank you.