Thousands rally in Beirut to mark one-year of anti-government protests

THOUSANDS of Lebanese anti-government protesters marched in the streets of Beirut on Saturday to mark the first anniversary since nationwide protests erupted across the country against a corrupt political class.

Protesters were chanting “Revolution, revolution.” One placard read: “We will continue no matter what.” One group stopped outside the Lebanese Central Bank in Beirut’s Hamra Street and chanted “Thieves, thieves.” Some hurled stones at the cement barriers surrounding the facility.

“We tell our corrupt leaders we are continuing until we remove you,” Wissam Baydoun, a protester, told dpa.

“Maybe coronavirus slowed us down, but we will be back on the streets stronger and very soon,” said Nicole Bustany, another protester.

Most of the protesters were wearing masks, some with “revolution” written on them, while others had the Lebanese ags on theirs. Demonstrators also shouted their famous revolutionary chants: “The people want the downfall of the regime” and “All of them means all of them.” Heavy security measures by the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces were taken across the city to prevent any violence or security breaches. Smaller protests also took place across the country to pay tribute to the demonstrations, which erupted on October 1 as a result of new taxes, including on WhatsApp calls, as well as widespread corruption.

In Beirut, a group of protesters gathered at Martyrs’ Square, just a few meters from where a deadly blast took place on August 4.

The blast killed more than 190 people, wounded 6,000, displaced some 300,000 and destroyed large parts of the city.

(AFP) Lebanese protesters gather to light the “October 17 torch” marking the one year anniversary of the beginning of a nationwide anti-government protest movement, in front of the devastated port of the capital Beirut where a massive explosion took place more than two months ago, on Saturday.