Czechoslovakia / Prague from 25th to 28th November 1989 / The ‘Velvet Revolution’ or the Czechs prefering to call what happened ‘the November Events’. The protest began as a legal rally to commemorate the death of Jan Opletal, but turned instead into a demonstration demanding democratic reforms. From Saturday, November 18, until the general strike of November 27, mass demonstrations took place in Prague, Bratislava, and elsewhere. Prime Minister Ladislav Adamec was forced to hold talks with the Civic Forum, which was led by still- dissident (soon to be President) Vaclav Havel.The Civic Forum demanded the resignation of the Communist government, the release of prisoners of conscience, and investigations into the November 17 police action. Massive demonstrations of almost 750,000 people at Letna Park in Prague on November 25 and 26, and the general strike on the 27th were devastating for the communist regime.
At the 19th joint session of the two houses of the Federal Assembly, Alexandr Dubcek – who had led the ill-fated Prague Spring movement in the 1960’s – was elected Speaker of the Federal Assembly. One day later, the parliament elected the Civic Forum’s leader, Vaclav Havel, President of Czechoslovakia.
© Fausto Giaccone / Anzenberger
