Jerzy Popiełuszko (September 23 1947 - October 19 1984) - Polish Catholic priest, associated with Solidarity and murdered by the Security Forces.

Jerzy Popiełuszko was a charismatic priest that was first sent to strikers in the Warsaw Steelworks. Since then he was associated with workers and trade unionists from Solidarity movement who opposed the Communist regime in Poland.

He was an adamant anti-communist and his sermons were rather like political speeches criticizing the system and motivating people to protest. The Catholic Church was during the Martial Law the only force that could more openly voice the protest. It was possible in churches during masses.

Popiełuszko's sermons became famous throughout Poland for their uncompromising stance against the regime. The Security Forces tried to silence or intimidate him. When it did not work they fabricated evidence against him and he was arrested in 1983 but soon released on intervention of the clergy and pardoned by an amnesty.

It is said that a car accident was set up to kill Jerzy Popiełuszko on October 13, 1984 but he escaped it. The alternative plan was to kidnap him and it was carried out on October 19, 1984. The priest was beaten, tortured and killed by three Security Police officers. His body was dumped into the Vistula Water Reservoir near Wloclawek where it was recovered on October 30, 1984.

The news of the political murder caused an uproar throughout Poland and the murderers and one of their superiors were convicted of the crime. Despite of the murder and its repercussions the Communist regime was in power until 1989.