The Protests-Facts

FACTS

WHAT?

This social movement, which is "a group of diffusely organized people or organizations striving toward a common goal relating to human society or social change, or the organized activities of such a group", is spontaneous and until now, hasn't any leader.

However, since this movement started on the social networks, well known vloggers and instagrammers are somehow "the leaders" of their community by explaining to them the situation and encouraging them to go out, be respectful of the police and the other protesters and to participate in other actions.

Examples of instagramers: ihcene_the_algventurous, dz_dreamer; anes.tina; nassim_herkat; nazihcherouati.

HOW/WHEN?

Each week, after the Friday prayer, Algerians gather together to start the protest with their humorous banners.

During the rest of the week, some groups take actions to claim their own demands, for instance, on Thursdays, the students protest take place. Journalists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc also have "their"protests with their specific demands.

Lazhari Labter, a journalsit and writter, has written "The 18 Commands of the pacifist and civilized walker" -"Les 18 Commandements du marcheur pacifiste et civilisé"-.

1) "Peacefully and quietly I will walk,

2) As a dignified and civilized man I will behave,

3) Water and vinegar I will bring with me [to clean the face in case of tear gas, NDLR],

4) To no provocation I will answer,

5) The baltaguias (name given to the breakers paid by the power to create violence) I will isolate and to the police I will give them

6) Not a stone I will throw

7) Not a window I will break

8) Not an improper word I will pronounce

9) To people and property I will not touch

10) To the policeman and the gendarme I will smile

11) To the woman, a rose I will offer

12) To the thirsty, my water I will share

13) On old, women and children I will watch

14) With determination I will walk

15) Against all odds, I will go

16) A worthy heir to the Novembrists (Algerian independence activists from the beginning, who unleashed the anti-colonial insurrection on November 1, 1954) I will be,

17) After the walk, the streets and squares I will clean

18) To the world watching me, a lesson I will give and an example I will be

Because I know that Liberty at the end of the road will wait for me and in her open arms she will welcome me. "

Interesting facts:

-8 March: international day of the women: women (housewives and older ones) were invited to go out and protest with the rest of the population, which was mostly composed of men and students.

-during the protest a new challenge have seen the light, the trash tag challenge:

An Algerian protester has cleaned a place and has taken a picture before and after the cleaning. Hours later, his post, on Facebook, has been shared by an American who encouraged "bored teens" to clean their surroundings. The challenge was born.

Picture owned by Younes Drici Tani

Since then, many Algerian students have started to clean roads, parks, seas, hospitals, etc as a sign of love towards their country.

-some artists have taken initiatives too. Well known Algerians have supported the movement on their way. For instance, the rappers Fianso, Médine, Soolking and L'Algerino have shown their support on their social networks. The last two rappers have even made songs, "La Liberté" and "Algérie mi amor", respectively, which are sung during the protests. Two other songs have been created for the movement, one created by a group of Algerian artists, "Libérez l'Algérie" and the other by an Algerian rapper (woman) Raja Meziane, called "Allô le Système!".

-the police has joined the protest and support them in Algiers and Skikda.

-Algerians from different countries (France, Canada, UK, Belgium, etc) have protested in their country to support their families in Algeria. 

- a general strike, as sign of civil disobedience, has been and still is discussed. Some people want to do bigger things to make the government react. "Small" strikes have already taken place in the administrative sector.

Most economists and specialists have warned the population against the danger that this kind of strike could have, not only on the economy and the daily life of the most needy but also on the actual peace.