The day of Solidarity: Belarusians Continue Street Actions
Hundreds of people on 16 January went into the streets of Minsk and other Belarusian cities and towns to manifest their solidarity with the families of the Belarusian disappeared journalists, political prisoners and those fighting for freedom and democracy in Belarus.100 youth activists lighted the candles of Freedom and Solidarity at the Svislach river embankment .50 people with burning candles and of Freedom and Solidarity and portraits of political prisoners stood in chain at the central railway station. “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” posters were hanged in different places of Minsk and independent newspapers were distributed throughout Belarus. The solidarity actions were held in regional centers of the country as well as in Baranavichi, Babruisk, Zhodzina, Barisau, Saligorsk, Niasvizh and other towns. Thousands of Belarusians lighted candles at their windowsills .In many countries all over the world Belarusian embassies were picketed and the actions of solidarity were taken.
Actions of solidarity with Belarus were held in Belgium, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Estonia, Sweden, the USA and other countries of the world.
The initiative to hold Days of Solidarity started after on September 16, 2005 police disbanded a rally in memory of the abducted and seized all portraits and national flags. Then one of Zubr activists Mikita Sasim put up his jeans shirt as a symbol of resistance to dictatorship. He was cruelly beaten up by riot policemen and placed to a hospital with a brain concussion. Not long before the elections, on March 14, Mikita Sasim was arrested, and then framed-up to three months of arrest.
Since that time actions of solidarity were held in Belarus and all over the world on the 16th day of every month. Hundreds thousands of Belarusians and friends of our county all over the world light candles of solidarity in their windows at 8 p.m., stage street actions, attach white-red-white ribbons to their clothes, take part in flash mobs and internet actions. Church services are held all over the world for those who stay in prisons on Belarus. Not only common citizens, but heads of parliaments and governments, presidents of many courtiers show their solidarity with Belarus.
