CU marks 17 November












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            Compared to last year's anniversary, most Czechs marked this 17 November – Struggle for Fr

            Democracy Day – more quietly than usual, many of them online (although there were increasi
            as the day wore on and more people came out in larger numbers).


            Members of the public had been asked in the run-up not to engage in traditional activities
            key sites in order to limit the spread of Covid-19, which has slowed only recently after s
            However by the evening, hundreds of people demonstrated against coronavirus restrictions i

            Prague, chanting and ignoring the requirement to wear masks, a marked difference from the 
            sparse approach earlier in the day.


            Representatives of Charles University marked November 17 in smaller delegations over the c
            honouring the sacrifice and courage of students and others in both 1939 and 1989.


            Seventy-one years ago on the day, the Nazis stormed Czech universities and ordered their c
            nine students and sending 1,200 to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Thirty-one years 

            17 November saw the start of the Velvet Revolution which began after riot police brutally 
            students on Prague’s National Street (Národní třída).



            Media coverage


            Media outlets throughout the day broadcast reports and Charles University’s Jan Kuklík and
            among those providing commentary and analysis of the historic events on Czech TV. Members 
            board as well as Rector Tomáš Zima himself, also honoured the memory of students from 1939

            their sacrifice. On Tuesday morning, the rector, flanked by the head of the Czech Academy 
            Zažímalová and colleagues such as Vice-Rectors Jan Royt and Milena Králíčková, laid wreath
            the Hlavkova dormitory. Politicians, members of the academic community and others also pai

            throughout the day.




            Student Jan Opletal


            Another important site on November 17, is the memorial plaque dedicated to student Jan Opl
            killed by the Nazis in 1939. This year’s gathering was more quiet than in previous years d
            restrictions. That, however, took little away from this public holiday which Rector Tomáš 

            of the most important dates in all of Czech history.”



            Honouring Eduard Albert

            Charles University on Tuesday unveiled a new bust of surgeon and pedagogue Eduard Albert, 

            a whole complex of Charles University buildings and surrounding areas and streets in Pragu
            Albertov – central in the events of both 1939 and 1989. Rector Zima, himself a doctor, sai
            university professor, who also popularised Czech poetry, had been a man “ahead of his time

            conducted many surgical “firsts” in his day. The new bust in his honour, is located at CU’
            Institute.



            At Albertov Street


            Rector Tomáš Zima as well as Vice-Rector for Research Jan Konvalinka, the Vice-Rector for 
            and Egyptologist Miroslav Bárta, together with Faculty of Science Dean Jiří Zima, also hon
            of 1989 at a plaque at the CU Faculty of Science building that reads the famous words “Whe

            who – if not us?” from when students gathered at the site 31 years ago in Albertov Street,
            demonstration that would spark a wave of protests that would sweep Czechoslovakia's commun
            power.



            November 17, 1989


            The day still holds deep significance for most Czechs, who come out on the day to the key 
            and honour the sacrifices of students and dissidents who paved the way for Czechoslovakia’

            freedom. Even fear of the coronavirus in the end was not enough to keep thousands of Czech
            to Národní Street (where riot police infamously cracked down on students in 1989), lightin
            a famous plaque of student hands raised in peaceful protest, some of them flashing the sig

            Students on Tuesday, as well as CU’s Rector Tomáš Zima and Radka Wildová, the Vice-Rector 
            of Education, lit candles and remembered the turbulent events that changed the direction o
            putting it on a path to free democratic elections and leaving totalitarian rule behind.


            On Tuesday evening, Rector Zima gave a speech commemorating the day from the historic Gran
            Carolinum.





            If you’d like to revisit our special 30th anniversary issue from last year, please downloa
            English here [ URL "https://www.ukforum.cz/print-edition"] . The commemorative issue inclu
            with former student leaders and other key figures who played crucial roles during the Velv

            which saw Czechoslovaks regain their freedom.



            Story by Martin Rychlík - with additional reporting by Jan Velinger
            Photos by Vladimír Šigut, Michal Novotný, Martin Pinkas