Executive Committee Joanna Bou-Daher Lebanon movements

on the day of 17th October 2019 , unfortunate events led by our government, accentuate riots in the country over newly high unreasonable taxes. Today what a started a united riot from north to south to the capital Beirut marks the 41 day for what is known now as the revolution of 17th October Revolution with no identity to any political party which is a first in our country , is taking the street not only for the lately taxes , but as a result of corruptions that leads back to more than 30 years , with the same political regime in the authority; this is a way to state that the people can no longer withstand such events, as the middle class has vanished over the years, remaining with the rich and the poor , the people had had enough of this political corruption and sectarianism protestors started by blocking the roads randomly each in their neighborhood demanding the government, the president to step down .

And in Beirut , which held the biggest protest, some protestors exclaimed their anger , by smashing window shops, burning tires , throwing rocks at the army resulting in firing tear gas at the rioters to fall back; there is several demands from the revolution to name a few, new electoral system, having new elections , a civil state…each day it grew bigger, for the time being there is tents in most of the cities of Beirut ,

Tripoli and Sour; the regime is trying to create a stress between the protestors and the people who are with the government, resulting in defying chants from the protestors side; the revolution marked an unbelievable surprising rate of LGBTQ community in the streets , with no offense towards them from any of the other protestors or the army and special forces , on the contrary we were welcomed with opened arms , we are even revolting by holding banners about our community-wide open with no fear whatsoever; I myself, felt a little freedom that I have never felt before in this country (where you can be harassed subsequently for being in the LGBTQ community), one of the protestors stated “we want to topple homophobia, it must go” moreover there is pro-LGBTQ graffiti filling the streets . This marks a new beginning for sure. Joanna Bou Daher