Prague - There was a series of events that led to the peaceful Velvet Revolution which saw the overthrow of the communist government in November 1989. The first anti-government demonstrations took place in 1988.
By the late 1980's, discontent with living standards and overall repression gave way to popular support for economic reform. Czech and Slovak citizens began to challenge the governmental system more openly.
The very first anti-communist government demonstration took place on March 25, 1988 in Bratislava. It was an unauthorized peaceful gathering of some 2,000 (other sources say 10,000) Catholics, organized by the Slovak Catholic dissent. The protesters demanded religious freedom and civic rights but were violently dispersed by the police. It was commonly dubbed "Candle Demonstration".
Another anti-establishment demonstration took place on October 28, 1988, the day independent Czechoslovakia was founded, in Prague, Bratislava and other towns. They were also dispersed and participants repressed by the police.
| Lubomír Kotek's photographs Dull life under communism in photographs |
Photographer Lubomír Kotek happened to be there and happened to have a camera with him. His pictures are now exhibited at Prague's Louvre Gallery (Národní třída 20) until January 2010.
