Thousands of people commemorated the events and legacy of the Gentle Revolution on Monday in Banská Bystrica at a civic gathering. Speakers in the park under the SNP Monument remembered the personalities of November 1989, recalled the courage of the students, but also criticized the statements of the representatives of the current government towards the young generation.
The civic gathering dedicated to the anniversary of the Gentle Revolution began in the afternoon at SNP Square in Banská Bystrica. A crowd of people, together with the organizers from the platform Not in our city, then walked through the streets in the city center to the park under the SNP Monument. Thousands of people were addressed by several speakers and commemorators of November 1989.
Co-organizer of the events of the Gentle Revolution, founding member of the coordination committee of the Public Against Violence and former member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Peter Tatar recalled in his speech that the holiday of the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy cannot be canceled by a vote in the parliament. He also stated that although we have had democracy for decades, citizens often do not behave democratically.
“During those 36 years, we only occasionally elected a democratic government, but it was worth it for a short time. Because we are safe and comfortable in the European Union and NATO, but we can lose it. Simply, cleaning up once is not enough.” said Tatar. He also recalled the role of students in 1989 and stated that thanks to the courage of the current young generation, we are currently experiencing a “chalk revolution”.
The students’ courage was highlighted by Beata Hirt, a direct participant of the November events in Banská Bystrica and a member of the Not in Our City initiative. She shared with the crowd her own experience, when in 1980, as a high school student, she was taken to the State Security for her first interrogation. The reason was supposed to be that she spread anti-socialist jokes at school. “I was sure that after the Gentle Revolution something like this couldn’t happen to anyone in our country. And, unfortunately, it did. It’s outrageous and inexcusable,” said Hirt.
At the gathering in Banská Bystrica, the announcement of the Academic Senates of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Matej Bel University was also heard. The senates objected to long-term verbal attacks by some politicians directed at students. “The aforementioned attacks are taking place at a time when Slovakia is facing a long-term outflow of talented young people abroad. This is a trend that fundamentally weakens the country’s development and its future potential.” said the senates.
