We remember November 17, 1989. 35 years have already passed since the Velvet Revolution, but these events are still very alive and nowadays it is very important to remember that freedom and democracy are not taken for granted. In Ostrava, a meeting has traditionally taken place at the memorial plaque to the victims of evil at the New Town Hall.
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The traditional meeting for the anniversary of November 17, 1989 in the foyer of the New Town Hall on Prokešov náměstí in Ostrava is organized by the Confederation of Political Prisoners, Olga Havlova High School, Fiducia Antiquarian and the Okrašlováčí spolek za beautiful Ostrava.
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Leo Žídek, chairman of the Confederation of Political Prisoners Ostrava: “It was an important turning point in our history, and we must always be aware that if it were not for the bravery of those who prepared November 17 before that, we would not have freedom and democracy.”
Jan Dohnal (ODS), mayor of Ostrava: “Today, we have already gotten used to the fact that freedom and democracy are a matter of course, but they are not. We need to remember them and take care of them.”
The November events in the Moravian-Silesian capital have a number of specifics, and even though it took longer in Ostrava, in the end freedom and democracy won here too.
Petr Šimíček, historian, Olga Havlové Gymnasium: “We were the steel heart of the republic, so the regime here was particularly harsh. For example, there were relatively few signatories of Charter 77 here, and the state security monitored them carefully, and because it is an industrial region, it was difficult to start the revolution here.”
During the meeting, those present laid wreaths and flowers at the memorial plaque to the victims of evil, which was unveiled at the New Town Hall in 1993 on the initiative of political prisoners.
What events unfolded on November 17, 1989, that marked a turning point for Ostrava’s political landscape?
1. What was the significance of November 17, 1989 in Ostrava’s history?
2. How did the people of Ostrava contribute to the events leading up to that day?
3. What challenges did the citizens of Ostrava face in their pursuit of freedom and democracy?
4. How has the city of Ostrava celebrated or commemorated the anniversary of November 17 over the years?
5. How has the legacy of November 17, 1989 influenced the political climate of modern-day Ostrava?
