In an attempt to wrest political power, the SL organized a series of large demonstrations and strikes, which were often met with government opposition.

One of the most notable events of this kind was a large wave of strikes that took place in 1932-33 in southern Poland, in the area of Lapanow, Lesko, and Ropczyce.

[2] Instead of negotiating, the government would send armed police or units of the Polish Army, which pacified villages and sometimes killed the demonstrators.

Crucially, Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna, PPS) declined to participate in it, so despite KPP support, the strike did not spread to the cities, as SL hoped.

[1] Even within SL, not all activists were convinced it was a good idea; it was supported by Wincenty Witos and Stanisław Mikołajczyk, but criticized by Maciej Rataj.

[1] The decision to start the strike was the effect of new tactics, worked out during the Extraordinary Congress of the People's Party (SL), which took place on January 17, 1937, in Warsaw.

Participants in the Congress signed an appeal that demanded democratization of the country, amnesty for politicians sentenced in the Brest trials, and changes in the Constitution.

The strike was organized by Stanisław Mikołajczyk, and by Wincenty Witos, who had been forced to leave Poland and lived in Czechoslovakia.

On that day, thousands of people gathered, unaware of the fact that Minister Felicjan Slawoj-Skladkowski had forbidden public demonstrations and meetings.

Timing was crucial, as in mid-August, old food supplies in the cities had been exhausted, and deliveries of new goods were expected to cover shortages.

After his speech, leaflets were spread among those gathered, and peasants began singing their informal anthem "Gdy naród do boju" ("When The Nation Fights").

[5] The leaflets informed about demands of the strikers, such as dissolution of the Parliament, the release of political prisoners, change of the Constitution, and just distribution of social goods.

Peasant demonstrators blockaded roads and stopped food deliveries to the cities, and at first, the government tolerated the action, regarding it as legal, and convinced that the SL would not be able to expand the protest.

[4] One of the peasant activists from the area of Sandomierz wrote later: "In every village there was a strike committee, with deputies in case of arrests.

[4] First skirmishes took place in the area of Jarosław on August 17, where members of the Peasants' Order Guard fought the police.

In response, the peasants blocked the main road of southern Poland, route Kraków - Lwów (in the area of Brzesko), where transport of all goods was halted.

Local police commandant wrote in his report: "On the roads and in their vicinity there are gangs of peasants armed with knives, sticks, perhaps guns.

[6] Officers beat peasants, their wives and children with batons, rallies were dispersed, and during revisions in houses, furniture and goods were destroyed.

Many of them stayed behind bars until September 1939, when prison guards left their posts behind, escaping the advancing German troops.

[1] SL activists wanted to organize another strike in 1938, but due to deteriorating international situation, and growing threat of German aggression, it was called off.