11.11.11 - Occupy Tunis

When I first arrived at La Place des Droits de l'Homme on 11.11.11, I have to admit I was a bit let down. A bit uninspired. I was told that this park, in the heart of Tunis's downtown district, was to be the setting for a huge "Occupy Tunis" demonstration - yet upon my arrival I found nothing more than a few hippies playing drums on the ground and some people arguing with each other in a circle. I couldn't believe it. I was in Tunis, Tunisia - the place where it all started, the place where the people shouted so loudly that they brought a 23 year dictatorship down to the ground. And now, a drum circle? A few dozen people loudly discussing capitalism and communism? What has happened? I walked around the park for a few moments, wondering if I had come to the right place. Than, just as I was about to give up and go hit the nearest coffee shop for a capuccino and some chicha, they arrived; an army of sign waving, slogan chanting, demonstrators. Within moments the park was completely packed with activists, local and foreign press, and other's just curious as to what all the commotion was about.

Inspired by the "Occupy Wall Street" movement in New York City, the demonstration in Tunis made 2 things about Tunisians very clear to me: 1. These guys love to protest, and 2. These guys are really serious about making change in their country. Yet, while there was something beautifully cyclical about a protest inspired by protests inspiring other protests, I feel that for me the actually purpose of the "Occupy" movement got a bit skewed. As it turned out, Occupy Tunis seemed almost to be more about communism and less about anti-capitalism. Red flags dawning the classic hammer and sickle flew as members of Tunisia's communist party gave speeches and handed out literature. Now this is not to say that the whole event was one big communism seminar, naturally other classic protest favorites were there too; El Che, Marx, and even Mao Zedong got some face time on a few posters and t shirts. However, I must say that I was a bit startled to see that evil communist flag that, as an American, I have been taught to fear.

All in all the event was pretty tame. While I did hear stories of the police beating up on a few protesters, I didn't get the chance to see anything of that nature with my own eyes. From what I understand, this will be a weekly event, so I will follow up if anything interesting develops. Please enjoy the photos below.