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Thousands attend an anti-government rally organized by Poland's main opposition party

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Thousands attend an anti-government rally organized by Poland's main opposition party
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Thousands attend an anti-government rally organized by Poland's main opposition party

2024-09-15 00:33 Last Updated At:00:41

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Thousands of people attended an anti-government rally organized by Poland's nationalist conservative opposition party to boost support before next year's presidential election.

Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski called on supporters to be active at social and political levels and to back the party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election. He hasn't yet named the candidate.

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Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, right, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Thousands of people attended an anti-government rally organized by Poland's nationalist conservative opposition party to boost support before next year's presidential election.

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, left, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet, before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, left, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet, before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, front, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, front, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends solemn ceremonies at Westerplatte, on the Baltic Sea, Poland, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends solemn ceremonies at Westerplatte, on the Baltic Sea, Poland, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)

Kaczynski also accused the pro-European Union government of acting against the nation’s interests and violating its laws and cited recently opened investigations into allegations of mismanagement and corruption of the Law and Justice government.

Up to 4,000 people with national white-and-red flags gathered for the rally held in windy weather outside the Justice Ministry in Warsaw, which has become a symbol of years of deep rifts between the backers of Kaczynski and Donald Tusk, now the prime minister and leader of the center-right Civic Platform party.

Law and Justice, which governed Poland for nearly a decade from 2015 until 2023, drew criticism from Brussels and Tusk alike for making changes to Poland’s judicial system that were deemed undemocratic.

Many in the nation of 38 million people were also tired of the aggressive and divisive language that Kaczynski, who dictated the government's policies from the sidelines, used to energize support.

The party lost power in the 2023 election, but is still exerting control through President Andrzej Duda, who is allied with Law and Justice. Duda, whose second and last term runs out in August, has been blocking many of the government's draft laws.

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, right, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, right, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, left, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet, before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, left, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet, before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Backers of the right-wing opposition party Law and Justice take part in a protest ally of a few thousand people against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, front, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Leader of Poland's right-wing opposition party Law and Justice, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, front, attends the party's protest rally of a few thousand backers against the policies of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet before the Ministry of Justice, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends solemn ceremonies at Westerplatte, on the Baltic Sea, Poland, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends solemn ceremonies at Westerplatte, on the Baltic Sea, Poland, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk)

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Chaos hits AP poll with 4 teams ranked in the top 11 losing to unranked opponents

2024-10-06 12:37 Last Updated At:12:40

Vanderbilt's stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama that led to crazed fans marching the goal posts through the streets of Nashville was just the appetizer.

Saturday proved to be one of the wildest days in the AP poll in years.

Four teams ranked in the top 11 in the latest poll were upset by unranked teams Saturday, the first time that happened on a single day since the topsy-turvy 2007 season that ended with LSU becoming the only two-loss champion in the BCS or College Football Playoff era.

What looked on paper to be a calm day with only one matchup between ranked teams turned out to be anything but calm with No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 10 Michigan and No. 11 Southern California all losing to unranked teams.

This marked the first time two SEC teams ranked in the top five lost to unranked conference opponents on the same day and was the first time since Sept. 29, 2007, that four teams ranked in the top 11 lost to unranked teams on the same day.

Vanderbilt got it started in surprising fashion by knocking off the Crimson Tide 40-35 just a week after Alabama vaulted into the top spot in the poll with a 41-34 win over Georgia. The Commodores had been 0-60 against teams ranked in the top five, according to Sportradar, which was the most games for any team that had lost every game against a top-five team. Temple now takes over that title with an 0-25 record.

The fans then tore down the goal posts and carried them just over a couple of miles toted the goal post just over a couple miles before tossing them into the Cumberland River.

“This is the dream, right here,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “And for the next 12 hours, I’m going to enjoy the dream. We’ve got more ahead of us, but this is what Vanderbilt football needs to be about: Big wins on big stages. We’re going to go get some more.”

The upsets and thrilling games were far from over.

The Volunteers were the next highest ranked team to go down when Malachi Singleton scored on an 11-yard run with 1:17 remaining to lift Arkansas to a 19-14 win at home.

Tennessee still had a chance by driving to the Arkansas 20, but Nico Iamaleava was pushed out of bounds on fourth-and-5 at the 16 as time expired. Arkansas fans immediately stormed the field.

There two other field stormings in the Big Ten following wins that weren't nearly as shocking.

Washington beat Michigan 27-17 in a national championship rematch that was missing both coaches from the title game and most of the key players.

“It feels good. You lose to them in the championship and then to come back and win and beat them, it feels good,” said Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan, one of the few holders on the Huskies roster from the championship game.

The loss snapped Michigan’s 24-game Big Ten regular-season winning streak. The Wolverines had not suffered a Big Ten loss since falling at Michigan State on Oct. 30, 2021.

Minnesota then knocked off USC when Max Brosmer powered into the end zone for on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 56 seconds left for a 24-17 win.

The officials on the field ruled him short, but the replay review resulted in a reversal the entire stadium knew was coming.

The game ended when Miller Moss' heave into the end zone was intercepted.. The crowd streamed onto the field to engulf the Gophers in a raucous celebration of their first victory over the Trojans since 1955.

One other top 10 team lost Saturday with No. 9 Missouri getting blown out 41-10 at No. 25 Texas A&M.

AP college football: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Washington players celebrate on the field after a 27-17 win over Michigan in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Washington players celebrate on the field after a 27-17 win over Michigan in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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