The Hazardous Historian 1

Riots and demonstrations continued and on November 27, a week after the fall of the

Berlin Wall, Prague was the host of over 500,000 peaceful protestors.

“ ”

The Hazardous Historian 3

” TheVelvetRevol u t i o n .

By Emily Tierney, Artwork by John Vallaster

During a time of great change across the globe, Czeckloslavakia’s citizens decided to

take a stand against Communism. The efforts of these everyday people resulted in a

new attitude, a new government, and a new country.

4 The Hazardous Historian

HE VELVET REVOLUTION also known as the Gentle Revolu-tion, began No-vember of 1989 in Czechoslova-kia. A journalist who reported on the first days of the revolution is thought to have coined the term

“Velvet Revolution.” “It is believed that the term originated from the various communist opposition groups which met in theaters such as the Laterna Magika. ‘Velvet’ refers to the velvet ropes found in all the theaters.” There is also a theory that the word ‘Velvet’ describes the relatively non-violet characteristic of the revolution, the smooth transition from Com-munism to democracy, or the idea that there was little to no conse-quences- good or bad. Whatever the name and meaning, this revolution triggered the overthrow of the Communist govern-ment and is seen as one of the most sig-nificant of the Revo-lutions of 1989.

THE REVOLU-

TIONS OF 1989 were “a revolutionary wave that swept across Central and Eastern Europe in late 1989, ending in the overthrow

of Soviet-style communist states within the space of a few months.” Together, these revo-lutions changed the balance of power around the world, especially Europe, and marked the end of the Cold War. Timothy Garton Ash, famous historical author, explained the revo-lutions by saying, “In Poland the transition [from communism to democracy] lasted ten years, in Hungary ten months, in Czechoslo-vakia ten days.” THE GENTLE REVOLUTION began Friday, November 17, 1989 when a police riot broke up a group of students peacefully dem-onstrating in Prague. The students had gath-ered to celebrate International Students’ Day and remember the death of Jan Opletal, a stu-dent who had been killed during World War II. The gathering, which had been approved by authorities, quickly turned into a demon-stration demanding political reform. The stu-dents marched towards Wenceslas Square, the

main area in down-town Prague, offer-ing flowers as signs of peace to the riot police. Police began beating the students back and, although nobody was killed in this riot, nearly 200 people were seri-ously injured.

RIOTS and demon-strations continued and, on November 27, a week after the

fall of the Berlin Wall, Prague was the host of over 500,000 peaceful protestors who or-

“In Poland the transition [from communism to

democracy] lasted ten years, in

Hungary ten months, in Czechoslovakia

ten days.”

T

The Hazardous Historian 5

ganized a numerous demonstrations includ-ing a two-hour general strike. This strike not only took place in Prague, but also other surrounding cities such as Bratislava. Pub-lic discussions were held in local theaters and, in one of these discussions, The Civic Forum was created. This group was cre-ated by activists from Charter ’77 and was “established as the official “spokes group” for the segment of the Czechoslovak public which is ever more critical of the policy of the present Czechoslovak leadership.” The Civic Forum, led by Vaclav Havel, a human activist and dissident playwright, demanded that the communist party resign and that political prisoners be released; the group also demanded that the police riot be inves-tigated.

Below: Crowds gathers in protest during the Velvet Revolution. Both images taken from Google.com

6 The Hazardous Historian

“THE LEADERS of the Communist re-gime were totally unprepared to deal with [such] popular unrest, even though commu-nist regimes throughout the region had been wobbling and toppling around them for some time.” And, the very next day, November 28, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia real-ized that it lacked any popular basis and an-nounced that it would surrender its power and dismantle the single-party state. This announcement led to great change in Czechoslovakia. Obstructions, such as

barbed wire and cement walls, were re-moved from

the border with West Germany; and on December 10, President Gustáv Husák resigned. Before leaving his position, however, Husák appointed the first largely non-Communist government in Czechoslo-vakia since 1948. Vaclav Havel, who had led the Civic Forum, was elected as the Czecho-slovak President on July 5,1990. This was the first free election, officially ending the Velvet Revolution.

HAVEL RESIGNED July 20, 1992, and with his resignation, came a lack of unity in the country and, the decision was made that

Czechoslovakia would be divided into two republics. By Novem-ber of 1992, Czecho-slovakia no longer ex-

isted, and by December 31, 1992, after being

joined for over 70 years, the two re-publics were offi-

Saturday November 18 At the initiative of students in Prague be-gan a strike. Gradual-ly, university students throughout Czecho-slovakia joined this strike. The theater employees and ac-tors in Prague, both of whom had also gone on strike, supported the students.

Ve lvet R e v o l u t i o n

Events in the

Thursday November 16 On the eve of Inter-national Students Day Slovak students organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Bratislava.

FridayNovember 17 The demonstration gave average students an opportunity to join others and express their opinions with-out fear. A cordon of riot police at Národní Street then stopped the demonstrators. They had blocked all escape routes and beat the students.

The Hazardous Historian 7

cial-ly divided, creat-ing Slovakia and the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993. This division has often been called the “Velvet Divorce.”

SOME ARGUE that the Velvet Revolu-tion was a conspiracy designed by StB and the KGB, reformists among party members. Although the theory of possible conspiracy has faded slightly, some truly believe that “the Communist party only transformed its power into other, less visible forms and still controls the society.” Generally, however, “it is as-sumed that there was a split between different factions of the Communist leadership (namely,

re-form Commu-nists anxious to replace those afraid of any change) and some of them tried to use the popular unrest to promote their agendas – ultimately ending the Communist rule.”

“Some argue that the Velvet Revolution was a conspiracy”

Sunday November 19 Members of theatri-cal, artistic and liter-ary associations as well as organizations and institutions joined the strikes and formed the Public Against Violence, and the Civic Forum, both of which would become leading forces behind the opposition move-ment in Slovakia.

Monday November 20 Students and theaters were on permanent strike. Non-Com-munist newspapers started publishing information, which contradicted the Com-munist interpretation. First mass demon-stration in Prague (100,000 people), first demonstrations in Bratislava.

Tuesday November 21 First official meeting of the Civic Forum with the Prime Min-ister, said he would personally guaran-tee that no violence would be used against the people.

Wednesday November 22 Civic Forum an-nounced a two-hour general strike for Monday November 27. First live reports from the demonstra-tion in Wenceslas Square appeared on Federal Television

8 The Hazardous Historian

The Hazardous Historian 9

THE VELVET REVOLUTION also known as the Gentle Revolution, began No-vember of 1989 in Czechoslovakia. A jour-nalist who reported on the first days of the revolution is thought to have coined the term “Velvet Revolution.” “It is believed that the term originated from the various communist opposition groups which met in theaters such as the Laterna Magika. ‘Velvet’ refers to the velvet ropes found in all the theaters.” There is also a theory that the word ‘Velvet’ describes the relatively non-violet characteristic of the revolution, the smooth transition from Com-munism to democracy, or the idea that there was little to no consequences- good or bad. Whatever the name and meaning, this revolu-tion triggered the overthrow of the Communist government and is seen as one of the most sig-nificant of the Revolutions of 1989.

THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1989 were “a revolutionary wave that swept across Central and Eastern Europe in late 1989, ending in the overthrow of Soviet-style communist states within the space of a few months.” Together, these revolutions changed the balance of pow-er around the world, especially Europe, and marked the end of the Cold War. Timothy Gar-ton Ash, famous historical author, explained the revolutions by saying, “In Poland the tran-sition [from communism to democracy] lasted ten years, in Hungary ten months, in Czecho-slovakia ten days.”

THE GENTLE REVOLUTION began Friday, November 17, 1989 when a police riot broke up a group of students peacefully demonstrating in Prague. The students had gathered to celebrate International Students’ Day and remember the death of Jan Opletal, a

Feeling radical in CottonPurified in my Satin

But the bomb of the seasonIs a Velvet Revolution

I look at the skyAnd feel the tears of the

Prophets crying

I look at the skyAnd feel the rainThe rain of tears

Feeling radical in CottonPurified in my Satin

But the bomb of the seasonIs a Velvet Revolution

All you killers of the childrenThere’s a new Commandment

The true Divine Creator wants aVelvet Revolution

All you killers of the childrenThere’s a new Commandment

The true Divine Creator wants a

Velvet Revolution

Velvet Revolution By Tori Amos

10 The Hazardous Historian

student who had been killed during World War II. The gathering, which had been approved by authorities, quickly turned into a demonstra-tion demanding political reform. The students marched towards Wenceslas Square, the main area in downtown Prague, offering flowers as signs of peace to the riot police. Police began beating the students back and, although no-body was killed in this riot, nearly 200 people were seriously injured.

RIOTS and demonstrations continued and, on November 27, a week after the fall of the Ber-lin Wall, Prague was the host of over 500,000 peaceful protestors who organized a numer-ous demonstrations including a two-hour gen-eral strike. This strike not only took place in Prague, but also other surrounding cities such as Bratislava. Public discussions were held in local theaters and, in one of these discussions,

The Civic Forum was created. This group was created by activists from Charter ’77 and was “established as the official “spokes group” for the segment of the Czechoslovak public which is ever more critical of the policy of the present Czechoslovak leadership.” The Civic Forum, led by Vaclav Havel, a human activist and dissident playwright, demanded that the communist party resign and that political pris-oners be released; the group also demanded that the police riot be investigated. “THE LEADERS of the Communist regime were totally unprepared to deal with [such] popular unrest, even though commu-nist regimes throughout the region had been wobbling and toppling around them for some time.” And, the very next day, November 28, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia re-alized that it lacked any popular basis and

Sunday November 26 The editorial staff of Slovakia’s Pravda, the central newspaper of the Communist Party of Slovakia, joined the opposition.

Thursday November 23 The military informed the Communist lead-ership of its readiness to act (ultimately, it was never used against demonstra-tors).

Friday November 24 Federal Television showed pictures from November 17 for the first time and the first television address of Václav Havel, dealing mostly with the planned general strike. Czechoslovak TV and Radio an-nounced that they would join the general strike.

Saturday November 25 The number of par-ticipants in the regular anti-governmental demonstration in Prague reached an estimated 800,000 people. Demonstra-tions in Bratislava had the highest number of participants at around 100,000.

The Hazardous Historian 11

announced that it would surrender its power and dismantle the single-party state. This an-nouncement led to great change in Czechoslo-vakia. Obstructions, such as barbed wire and cement walls, were removed from the border with West Germany; and on December 10, President Gustáv Husák resigned. Before leav-ing his position, however, Husák appointed the first largely non-Communist government in Czechoslovakia since 1948. Vaclav Havel, who had led the Civic Forum, was elected as the Czechoslovak President on July 5,1990. This was the first free election, officially end-ing the Velvet Revolution.

HAVEL RESIGNED July 20, 1992, and with his resignation, came a lack of unity in the country and, the decision was made that Czechoslovakia would be divided into two republics. By November of 1992, Czechoslo-

vakia no longer existed, and by December 31, 1992, after being joined for over 70 years, the two republics were officially divided, creating Slovakia and the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993. This division has often been called the “Velvet Divorce.”

SOME ARGUE that the Velvet Revolu-tion was a conspiracy designed by StB and the KGB, reformists among party members. Although the theory of possible conspiracy has faded slightly, some truly believe that “the Communist party only transformed its power into other, less visible forms and still controls the society.” Generally, however, “it is as-sumed that there was a split between different factions of the Communist leadership (namely, reform Communists anxious to replace those afraid of any change) and some of them tried to use the popular unrest to promote their

Monday November 27 A two-hour gen-eral strike takes place throughout the coun-try between 12:00 and 14:00, supported by a reported 75% of pop-ulation. The Ministry of Culture released anti-Communist literature for public checkouts in librar-ies, which effectively ended censorship.

This concluded the “popular” phase of the revolution, with many public demonstrations. The following victories, though supported by the strike students

and actors lasting until December 29, were achieved mainly through negotiations between the governments, the Civic Forum and Public Against Violence.

12 The Hazardous Historian

agendas – ultimately ending the Communist rule.”

THE VELVET REVOLUTION also known as the Gentle Revolution, began No-vember of 1989 in Czechoslovakia. A jour-nalist who reported on the first days of the revolution is thought to have coined the term “Velvet Revolution.” “It is believed that the term originated from the various communist opposition groups which met in theaters such as the Laterna Magika. ‘Velvet’ refers to the velvet ropes found in all the theaters.” There is also a theory that the word ‘Velvet’ describes the relatively non-violet characteristic of the revolution, the smooth transition from Com-munism to democracy, or the idea that there was little to no consequences- good or bad. Whatever the name and meaning, this revolu-tion triggered the overthrow of the Communist government and is seen as one of the most sig-nificant of the Revolutions of 1989.

THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1989 were “a revolutionary wave that swept across Cen-tral and Eastern Europe in late 1989, ending in the overthrow of Soviet-style communist states within the space of a few months.” To-gether, these revolutions changed the balance of power around the world, especially Europe, and marked the end of the Cold War. Timothy Garton Ash, famous historical author, ex-plained the revolutions by saying, “In Poland the transition [from communism to democ-racy] lasted ten years, in Hungary ten months, in Czechoslovakia ten days.” THE GENTLE REVOLUTION began Friday, November 17, 1989 when a police riot broke up a group of students peacefully demonstrating in Prague. The students had gathered to celebrate International Students’ Day and remember the death of Jan Opletal, a student who had been killed during World War II. The gathering, which had been ap-proved by authorities, quickly turned into a

demonstration demanding political reform. The students marched towards Wenceslas Square, the main area in downtown Prague, offering flowers as signs of peace to the riot police. Police began beating the students back and, although nobody was killed in this riot, nearly 200 people were seriously in-jured.

Propoganda image for communist party borrowed from Google.com (left), Crowd gathered for demonstration, bor-rowed from Google.com (right)

The Hazardous Historian 13

Riots and demonstrations continued and on November 27, a week after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Prague was the host of

over 500,000 peaceful protestors.“ ”