On Thursday afternoon an online protest in Syria specifically organised in conjunction with the London occupation was projected at St Paul’s, as part of a cross cultural joint solidarity protest with the Syrian people. The event, which featured the first live broadcast of a Syrian protest in Europe, was aimed at emphasising the need for solidarity amongst peoples rising up across the world.
The live stream, hosted by Occupy LSX’s channel, began at 6 pm. In London a crowd of around 100 protestors gathered above the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. In Syria thousands of people rallied across several cities to demand an end to the dictatorial regime of president Bhashar Al-Assad, who inherited Syria’s harsh dictatorship from his father, Hafez al-Assad.
According to UN official figures, over the past seven months, 3,000 civilians have been killed and over 30,000 have disappeared as a result of a military crackdown on peaceful protestors launched by the government. However, Armand, one of the organisers of the event, explains “tonight it is going to be different, because when there is a live broadcast of a Syrian protest abroad, the government can’t shoot”.
When unrest in the country kicked off in mid March, President Al-Assad appeared to waver between force and hints of reform. But in April, just days after lifting the country’s decades-old state of emergency, he launched the first of what became a series of ruthless crackdowns.
The atmosphere of the protests, both in London and in Syria, is of playful defiance. Chants, colourful banners and dances fill the air. Armand explains, “they want to show people that the revolution is not just about death and blood and violence-it can be cheerful as well”.
Among chants in opposition to Al-Assad and the Arab League it was striking to also hear “down with Cameron”. Mohammed, one of the organisers of the London protest explains that every Saturday, for the past eight months, this group of people has been demonstrating outside Downing Street. He says” if we don’t put pressure on Downing Street they won’t do anything to support the Syrian cause” then adds, “our government is just not reliable.
On the 2nd of November the government came to an agreement with the Arab League calling for an end to the violence and accepting to convene talks with the opposition within two weeks. The following day, Syrian military forces killed 12 people in the flashpoint city of Homs. Commenting on this, Mohammed said, “We just want respect”.
Finally he adds, “I hope the militancy and defiance of Syrian people will also encourage demonstrators in London”.