Andrzej Czuma

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Andrzej Czuma
born 1938
Function: member of Polish Parliament
Party: Civic Platform

Andrew Czuma (b. 7 December 1938 in Lublin) - Polish politician, lawyer and historian, an activist of the Polish anti-Communist opposition in the Polish People's Republic. Oppressed and imprisoned by the Communist authorities. In the 1980's moved to the USA. An activist in the community of Polish expats. Since 2006 a Member of the Polish Parliament. Elected twice, a representative of Civic Platform political party.

Studied law at Warsaw University. He was one of the founders of Ruch - an anti-Communist organisation aiming at making Poland a democratic country. Imprisoned by the Communist autorities. In June 1970 sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for "an attempt to overthrow the Communist government by force". A spokesperson for and one of the leaders of the Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights (Ruch Obrony Praw Czlowieka i Obywatela, ROPCiO) as well as an editor of Opinia magazine. Sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment in March 1980 for organising a celebration of Independence Day in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw on 11 November 1979. After the nationwide anti-Communist protests in August 1980 he became an advisor to the Solidarity movement in Silesia region as well and the publisher and editor of Wiadomości Katowickie magazine. Imprisoned from 12 December 1981 to 23 December 1982 in internment camps in Białołęka, Jaworze and Darłówek. In 1986 moved to Chicago (USA), where during the first two years he worked as a house painter and factory worker. In 1988 started to host his own radio show broadcast in the Chicago region by WNVR 1030 and next WPNA 1490 stations.

On 12 December 2006 sworn in as a Member of the Polish Parliament. Re-elected in the next election on 21 October 2007, on 5 November 2007 sworn in for another term of office in the Polish Parliament.

Awarded the Polonia Restituta Commander Cross with Star by the Polish President Lech Kaczyński and the Polonia Restituta Officer Cross by President Kazimierz Sabbat.