I'm eagerly anticipating it.
Monday is the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the end to 41 years of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. It "officially" started when violent riot police attacked a peaceful student demonstration in Prague; citizens took to the streets and in a few days, half a million people swelled through the city, demanding democracy. Some poignant and powerful photography:
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| The students lit candles and chanted ''we have bare hands'' - i.e. that they were unarmed. But riot police sealed off escape routes before attacking them. - From Radio Free Europe |
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| The demonstrations grew rapidly. On November 19, riot police blocked a bridge to prevent protestors marching to Prague Castle, the seat of the Czechoslovak president. - From Radio Free Europe |
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| Non-violent protesters filled the streets. - From Havel at Columbia |
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| On November 24, the crowds had grown to 300,000. Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright and former political prisoner, addressed the massive crowd from a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square. He became President when Communism fell. - From Radio Free Europe |
If you're in or around Prague, Expats.cz has posted a helpful list of things to do and see relative to this monumental day.
Also, Prague blogger Ricky Yates wrote an exceptional post about commemorating the Velvet Revolution on its 20th anniversary here.
On a related note, a Prague Maidan protest we saw in Old Town Square last weekend coincided (purposefully, I'm sure) with the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.
Saying prayers for peace and stability in Crimea, and looking forward to celebrating the beauty of democracy here in the Autumnal Czech Republic.
