Local Protesters Rally In Prague this Week

A new generation of dissenters are speaking out in the Czech Republic, organizing rallies in the Czech capital and beyond in response to political activities here and abroad. This week sees several such events happening in Prague:

In solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, the Love Trumps Hate rally will take place on Saturday, January 21.

The Prague protest is one of over 270 sister events that have been organized in support of the Washington, D.C. march planned for President Donald Trump’s first day in office.

In a statement released to the press, organizers said the intent of their Prague Solidarity Rally is to “affirm our commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and health of our children, families, and communities, including those individuals from politically and socially marginalised demographics.”

The group also spoke to relationships between the United States and the Czech Republic, including elected officials here in Prague who have “echoed and amplified the poisonous rhetoric of many politicians today.”

The Civil March for peace from Berlin to Aleppo, a peaceful demonstration against the war in Syria, left the German capital on December 26, following the “refugee route” in the opposite direction.

It entered Prague yesterday morning, where it made stops at the Syrian Embassy, Russian Embassy, and John Lennon Wall.

In case you missed it, a candle lighting ceremony is being held today at 5.30pm at Hradčanské náměstí. The group will stay in Prague from January 16 until January 17 when it heads to Ricany from outside of the National Museum, continuing through the Czech lands to the Syrian border.

“This war can be ended with a few strokes of a pen. But even if we still have to wait for that, we can’t wait and see the suffering of the people of Aleppo. No one deserves what they are going through. It’s no longer a normal war, if children’s hospitals become the targets.”

According to the site, organizers are looking for people to join the Civil March even for a few hours or donate funds to support the marchers on their journey.