4 records
1
1989
During a week-long series of protests commemorating the self-immolation of Jan Palach (dubbed Palach Week), he is taken into custody and sentenced to nine months without probation. Supporters circulate a petition in his defense, which is also signed by numerous artists active in the official culture. The border between official and alternative cultures begins to dissolve. A campaign is initiated to award VH the Nobel Peace Prize. In May he is released on parole. Immediately afterwards, he initiates a petition for the democratization of Czechoslovak society, A Few Sentences, which is signed by tens of thousands. In October he is arrested once again – this time for only a few days. The regime is visibly collapsing.
listopad 1989
Following the violent suppression of a student demonstration the Civic Forum is spontaneously established with a view to bringing about dialogue with the authorities. VH becomes the leading figure and main symbol of the non-violent toppling of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia and the transition from totalitarianism to democracy later referred to as the “Velvet Revolution“.
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