The 20th anniversary of the Velvet revolution is getting near – so what is it actually?
The Velvet Revolution (or Gentle revolution) was a non-violent anti-communist revolution that started on 17 Nov. 1989.
Initially Czechoslovakian students organized a demonstration to commemorate International Students Day and the fiftieth anniversary of the murder of students by the Nazi government. Almost 50 000 people participated, after the official end, part of them went to downtown Prague shouting anti-Communist slogans. The demonstrators were stopped by riot police who blocked all escape routes and beat the students.
Although 17th Nov. demonstration is considered as the most important it wasn’t the biggest one so far. Afterwards students were joined by theatre actors and agreed to go on strike. Every day demonstrations started and almost million people took part in some of them. Ten days later when a two-hour general strike was held by 75% of citizens of Czechoslovakia.
The mass demonstrations that followed on Nov. 17 led to the resignation of the Communist party and the creation of the country’s first non-Communist government in 41 years time. On 29 Dec. first democratic Czechoslovakian President was elected – Václav Havel (President of Czechoslovakia 1989-1992 and President of the Czech Republic 1993-2003).
Where to go November 17th ?
- Parade from Albertov to Národní třída – follows the historical route, starts at 3pm at Albertov with speech and continues to Národní třída where a public concert starts at 6pm (Monkey Business, Vladimír Mišík, Dan Bárta, Lenka Dusilová, James Cole, Vladimir 518, Orion and many others)
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176500237856&index=1
- Hudbou k výročí sametu (With music for the Velvet anniversary) – czech classical music concert held under the auspices of Václav Havel Starts at 8pm in Rudolfinum – one of the most beautiful Czech auditoriums at Prague. Entry 100 with students ID card
- Dvacet let svobody: Co dál? – final meeting of discussion series Democracy Czech-Up at 6:30pm, St. Wenceslas Square.
If you guys are looking for some official information, take a look on http://www.www.20letbezopony.cz
Post & text by Petra V.
