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| Things To Know Bohemia and Moravia Czech Culture The Velvet Revolution |
The Velvet Revolution
On November 17, 1989, a week after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was an officially sanctioned demonstration in Prague
to mark the Nazi suppression of Czech universities. It soon turned into a protest march against the authorities, and was forcefully
put down by riot police. A rumor began that the police had killed one demonstrator. In fact, it wasn't true, but the story
was enough to fuel public anger. People poured into the streets night after night, watched by television viewers across the
world. Alexander Dubček was brought back from obscurity in Bratislava to address the crowds. Václav Havel headed a newly established
Civic Forum, and on December 10 a new government was formed, with the Communists reduced to a minority. Less than three weeks
later, Havel was installed as president.
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