Feminist march sees candles, pot banging take over Beirut's central square

A feminist march was held in a central Beirut square in the evening, with thousands of women carrying candles as banging on saucepans.

MENA

3 min read

The New Arab

07 November, 2019

Women march with candles on Beirut's Martyr's Square [Getty]

A feminist candelight march was held in a central Beirut square on Wednesday as protests in Lebanon continue to grip the country.

Thousands of women gathered in a central square near the seat of government Wednesday evening, carrying candles as some banged on saucepans, an AFP correspondent said.

"O patriarchal powers, women's rights are not a footnote," they chanted.

"On Day 21 of #Revolution, #women led protests in downtown #Beirut holding candles, making drawings, banging on pots and pans," freelance journalist Alessandra Bajec tweeted.

A "candlelit march" was held in Martyr's square, according to Beirut.com, with reports of protests also taking place in Riad Al Solh Square.

"Nearer Riad Soloh, pple protesting thru noise +utensils," Bajec added in the tweet.

Twitter Post

Videos on social media showed a sea of lit up protestors making a thunderous noise by banging on pans.

Twitter Post

Meanwhile security forces and activists clashed on the Beirut waterfront after protesters tried to enter a private seaside resort, denouncing what they say is illegal privatisation of public property.

Across the country, hundreds of students skipped school, refusing to return to class until protest demands are met.

On pupil in Beirut asked Lebanese TV: "What will I do with a school-leaver's certificate if I don't have a country?"

A feminist march was also held Sunday, when Lebanese took to the streets in Beirut to show their support of the anti-government protests and to defend the women that were assaulted during clashes between protestors and counter-demonstrators.

Hundreds of men and women took part in the feminist march from the national museum towards the main square.

"Our revolution is feminist," read a banner carried by marchers.

Protesters have called for an end to President Michel Aoun's tenure, as well as drastic change to a political system dominated by the same figures and families since the end of the civil war.