Proving the ‘You Stink’ movement in Lebanon has staying power, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Beirut on Saturday with forceful chants of ‘revolution, revolution!’ as they demanded the resignation of key ministers and delivered an ultimatum to leaders they hold responsible for a garbage crisis that has blossomed into a populist anti-corruption wave.
The Daily Star in Lebanon reported that at least ten people were arrested and two police officers injured during the protests which were larger, but less violent, than similar ones last week.
“This is not a protest for political parties. It is for all the Lebanese people… we are against the parties that are exploiting citizens,” international theater director Lucien Bourjeily, one of the figureheads of the movement, told Agence France-Presse.
According to the Associated Press:
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Organizers demanded the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk and that municipalities across the country take responsibility for rubbish collection. The protest movement also called for those responsible for last week’s violence to be punished, singling out Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, and demanded new legislative and presidential elections.
“We give the government 72 hours. If our demands have not been met by Tuesday night, we will turn up the heat,” declared Rasha Halabi, a ‘You Stink’ campaigner, during a speech at Saturday’s rally.
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