After London and Paris stood with Lebanon on the 19th of January against the police’s use of excessive force against the protesters, 21 other cities around the world are joining the Lebanese fight.
In what may be the biggest supportive protests yet, the enthusiasm of the expats is obvious and the message is clear.
Meghterbin Mejtemiin is coordinating between the organizers of these protests, which are all under the slogan: With You All the Way.
The original list included 20 cities until three more decided to join. As we witnessed during the revolution with the expats, more cities would be joining in until then.
The protests are due to take place simultaneously, on Sunday 26 January, and include the following cities, so far:
- Boston, USA – Copley Square (14:00 – 15:00)
- Mississauga, Canada – Mississauga Valley (14:30 – 17:30)
- Edmonton, Canada – Legislature Building (12:00 – 14:00)
- Los Angeles, USA – Lebanon Street (12:00 – 16:00)
- Washington DC, USA – Lebanese Embassy (13:30 – 16:00)
- New York City, USA – Washington Square (14:00 – 17:00)
- San Fransisco, USA – Cupid’s Span (11:00 – 13:00)
- Sao Paulo, Brazil – Parca Osvaldo Cruz (15:00 – 18:00)
- Dubai, UAE – to be confirmed (23:30 – 02:30)
- Kuwait City, Kuwait – to be confirmed (22:30 – 01:30)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – Dam Square (14:00 – 16:00)
- Barcelona, Spain – Placa de Saint Jaume (14:30 – 16:30)
- Bucharest, Romania – Piata Charles de Gaulles (15:00 – 17:00)
- Dublin, Ireland – Merrion Square (13:00 – 15:00)
- Geneva, Switzerland – Place des Nations (14:00 – 16:00)
- London, UK – Marble Arch (13:00 – 15:00)
- Lyon, France – Place Bellecour (14:00 -16:00)
- Madrid, Spain – El Retiro Park (14:00 – 16:00)
- Montpellier, France – Place de la Comedie (16:00 – 18:00)
- Paris, France – Place Joffre (14:00 – 16:00)
- Cleveland, USA – Place and time to be confirmed.
- San Diego, USA – Place and time to be confirmed.
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada – in front of the Lebanese Consulate, at 15:00
These protests will also be broadcasted online for everyone to follow, on www.ard.news/live-stream at the following hours:
22:00 (10 PM) Beirut Time: Boston, Mississauga, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Dubai, and Kuwait City.
16:00 (4 PM) Beirut Time: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bucharest, Dublin, Geneve, London, Lyon, Madrid, Montpellier, and Paris.
A protest this big at this sensitive time in Lebanon is very significant and would mean a lot to the people of the Lebanese Revolution. People are hurt, angry and disappointed, as expressed these days in the streets and in revolutionary squares.
The expats are very much aware of that. They are following the revolution updates 24/7 and supporting it from abroad, whether on social media or by organizing solidarity protests.
This is not the first time they have shown this support, whether in Lebanon or in their countries overseas.
For the expats, this is not only a way to morally support and motivate the Lebanese in Lebanon to keep going. It is their way to urge them not to give up.
These expats around the world are counting on their people in Lebanon to achieve their demands for the much-needed change so they can come back home.