The first protest against the PIS (Low and Justice -ruling party in Poland) law on justice was held in Poznań on July 13, 2017. Demonstration organized by the “KOD” (Democratic Defense Committee) and opposition political parties did not attract many people. At the same time the idea of the Chain of Light was born. From 16 to 24 July it mobilized thousands of people from Poznan to protest. The initiator of the action was Franciszek Sterczewiski and a group of his friends. About 15,000 people from Poznan and the whole of Wielkopolska took part in the “Chain of Light”at the culmination point.

Demonstrations were peaceful. Many young people joined them due to the fact that from the beginning it was apolitical movement . Some older people said  that it was the first such large and strong social outbreak since the days of Solidarity.

President Andrzej Duda on July 24  vetoed the law on the National Court Register (KRS) and the Supreme Court (Sąd Najwyższy). The next day the law on Common Courts was adopted.