The Velvet Revolution

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November 17 is the day Czechs and Slovaks remember the Velvet Revolution.

The name refers to the non-violent revolution which took place in then-Communist Czechoslovakia in 1989.

On November 17, 1989, police broke up a peaceful student demonstration in Prague.

Two days later, the protestors returned to the streets in larger numbers. The protests continued for several weeks until the government finally collapsed.

Vaclav Havel was named president of Czechoslovakia on December 29, 1989. The country held democratic elections in June 1990.

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