Category: Georgia

Restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops were closed with paper signs taped to doors saying, ‘closed from 15:00 – 18:00.’ Despite the chill in the air, the grey sky, and the empty shops, the mood on Rustaveli was festive. People gathered in large groups or stood in front of their now-closed workplaces. They clutched cups of coffee or tea and waved signs.

Five minutes past seven. Dozens of protesters milled about in front of Parliament. Young people draped in Georgian flags huddled on benches looking at their phones. Circles of middle-aged adults talked while sipping hot liquid from paper cups. In a slow but continuous stream, people joined the protest, filling the available space.

Coffee in one hand, phone in the other, I settled in to read the news. Notifications and messages flooded my screen. A hot irritation crept up the back of my neck- I had missed something big. While I was watching reruns of random Thanksgiving episodes, police were trying to break up a protest with water cannons a few blocks away.

The thunderous sound of people throwing themselves at the metal barricades made my knees quiver. Some had pipes, others metal-plated gloves, but most had bare hands. In waves, the people of Georgia pounded on the barricades, trying to make their voices heard.

In this year of elections, I am coming a bit late to the table. However, my timing feels relevant. While all eyes are on the American election and the potential fallout of a Trump presidency, they are missing the drama in my corner of the world.