Košice Rallies Echo 1989, Demanding Accountability and Freedom
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Tens of thousands gathered in Košice this week, a powerful display of civic engagement mirroring the protests that unfolded 36 years prior, and signaling growing discontent with the current political climate in slovakia. The assembly, estimated by organizers to have drawn up to 20,000 participants, took place under the balcony of today’s State Science Library – the same location that served as a focal point for demonstrations in 1989.
A Legacy of Courage and Duty
The gathering was framed not as a partisan event, but as a reaffirmation of the values that underpinned the Velvet Revolution. Pavol Cacara, a leader of the VŠT strike commitee in 1989, addressed the crowd, emphasizing that freedom must be coupled with responsibility. “It hasn’t disappeared, today the students convince us of that. Thanks to that, democracy survives despite efforts to stop it,” he stated, expressing optimism that future generations will address the challenges facing the nation. He saw Monday’s large turnout as evidence that hope remains resilient, adding, “Whoever loves the republic draws on the sidewalk.”
Actress and moderator Ľuba Blaškovičová, who played a key role in the November 1989 meetings in Košice, invoked the spirit of the past with a familiar greeting: “Ahoj!” She remembered colleagues from the Nežna theater who are no longer alive, recalling the collective courage of those who stood in the cold on that same balcony decades ago. Blaškovičová questioned the direction of the country under the current leadership, asking, “What is happening to the country during the Fico era?” She asserted that scientists, artists, and journalists are facing increasing pressure and humiliation from the government, lamenting that “after 36 years fear reigns here again” and that “specific
“We Promised Love,” and a “Cretaceous Revolution”
“We Promised Love,” with thousands joining in and rattling their keys – a gesture of defiance reminiscent of past demonstrations. The rally concluded with a speech by preacher Daniel Pastirčák, who spoke of “light” representing the collective spirit of resistance. “That light is you, in all 40 cities,” he proclaimed, predicting that the current wave of protests, which he termed the “Cretaceous Revolution,” would be recorded in Slovak history. He praised a student who has become a symbol of the movement, defending him against accusations of being a government provocateur. Pastirčák recalled facing interrogation during the socialist era for participating in a banned exhibition, and warned that current policies are driving young people to leave Slovakia. He concluded with a powerful call to action: “Truth and love will win over lies and hatred. And as we blew the whistle on the communists, we will blow the whistle on you too.”
Students March, Reclaiming the Past
A student march, echoing the route taken in 1989, passed through the assembly at Dolná Brána. Students gathered at 4:00 p.m. in front of the maxima Hall of the Technical University, where they were met with critical chalk inscriptions directed at President Peter Pellegrini and minister of Education Tomáš Drucker, who had visited the campus on Thursday. The march, organizers emphasized, was apolitical and intended as a civic initiative.The route mirrored the original 1989 path, starting on Letná street and proceeding through Komenského Street, Námestie Maratónu Mieru, Moyzesova Street, and Hlavná Street, culminating at Dolná Brána.
Hundreds participated in the march, with Adam Bajus, a student representative from the Technical University of Košice, noting that it was also a response to the recent cancellation of a day of rest, which he argued sent a negative signal. “We kept the days off for holidays that are less significant. I think that the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy, as well as the Day of Students, are very importent,” he said. Students from the University of Veterinary Medicine also joined the march, expressing their commitment to protecting freedom and democracy.Organizers reiterated that the principles of freedom, truth, and fairness remain the bedrock of a just society, even 36 years after the Velvet Revolution.
