New Year’s Eve of Resistance and Solidarity
New Year’s Eve of 2024 could become a landmark day, a moment in time when the spirit of Georgia was reborn through resistance and solidarity.
For over a month, tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi, protesting the government’s decision to pause the country’s bid for European Union membership. This announcement sparked a torrent of protests, often marred by violence. The police, equipped with riot squads, unleashed tear gas and water cannons to scatter the crowds of demonstrators, who remained undeterred.
On New Year’s Eve, Rustaveli Avenue, one of Tbilisi’s main avenues, was filled with demonstrators but this protest stood apart. It became a unique blend of resistance and celebration. Protesters organized a traditional Georgian feast, the Supra, where food and drinks were shared among the crowd, turning the street into a symbol of unity and solidarity.
Without solidarity, equality is impossible, and without equality, democracy can't endure.
For over a month, tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi, protesting the government’s decision to pause the country’s bid for European Union membership. This announcement sparked a torrent of protests, often marred by violence. The police, equipped with riot squads, unleashed tear gas and water cannons to scatter the crowds of demonstrators, who remained undeterred.
On New Year’s Eve, Rustaveli Avenue, one of Tbilisi’s main avenues, was filled with demonstrators but this protest stood apart. It became a unique blend of resistance and celebration. Protesters organized a traditional Georgian feast, the Supra, where food and drinks were shared among the crowd, turning the street into a symbol of unity and solidarity.
Without solidarity, equality is impossible, and without equality, democracy can't endure.