The 17 November celebrations in Brno were centred on Freedom Square, where the Prayer for Marta and the Czech and Slovak anthems were played. The programme took place simultaneously in a total of nine places. Musical performances alternated with speeches by prominent personalities. “If democracy has its issues, we need to overcome those issues, not overcome democracy,” said Rector of Masaryk University, Martin Bareš, paraphrasing the words of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš G. Masaryk.
The festive day was opened by the cymbalo band Jánoch, who warmed up the audience in the frosty air with their lively rhythms. Presenters Martin Štorkán and Vít Kubant introduced the theme of the 8th edition of the festival: Freedom and Responsibility. This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony by representatives of Brno’s universities and the Student Chamber of the Council of Higher Education Institutions.
“If people feel that they have not benefited from the success of the last thirty-five years, why should they believe in freedom and democracy? It all has to do with the way people live. If we give them back their hope and faith, we can prevent their misfortune from being exploited by extremists, populists and oligarchs. If we cannot make democracy work for everyone, we will all lose it,” said Jan Procházka, a representative of Masaryk University who delivered a speech on behalf of the Student Chamber of the Academic Senate of Masaryk University, in which he also pointed to the students who are not shy to express their opinion and speak out against injustice.
The Jean Valjean Orchestra from Slovakia took to the stage, followed by a performance by singer and guitarist Thom Artway, who recalled his busking beginnings in Brno with people under the stage. The legendary band Synkopy 61 filled the already crowded square with the 1960s–1980s big beat.
Speakers in the individual blocks included activist and lawyer Adéla Horáková from the non-profit organisation Jsme fér, former dissident Jiřina Nehybová, Janko Martinkovič, and the governor of the South Moravian Region Jan Grolich.
Jasna Cifrová spoke on behalf of the “Universities for Climate” activist group and reminded the audience that the November events that eventually brought the communist regime in Czechoslovakia to its end had begun a little earlier in the town of Teplice: “Protests there were not just about clean air, but also about freedom. The legacy of November 1989 is therefore also the legacy of the citizens’ courage to resist political neglect of the environment and human health.”
At exactly 5:11pm, the Prayer for Marta was performed by Markéta Matulová, an actress from the Goose on a String Theatre, followed by the Czech and Slovak national anthems. A symbolic telebridge with Prague was also established.
Rector Martin Bareš and Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs Tomáš Knoz of the Faculty of Arts spoke as representatives of Masaryk University: “Freedom is a precious stone, and as Joachim Gauck said – we must not abandon it and we must take good care of it every day.”
The MU stand was also present in the university zone, where the MUNI HELPS Volunteer Centre presented its work. The Palace of the Noble Ladies at Kobližná Street was reserved for a programme for children and young people. Those who did not pick up a lantern from the university stands or bring one from home could make it themselves at the workshop of the Student Endowment Fund of the Faculty of Arts, which also organised the lantern parade. “The only thing people have to bring with them is fifty Czech crowns. They will get all the materials from us. At the entrance, they can pick up paper on which they can draw. We will then glue the lanterns together for them,” explained Lucie Černá, vice-chair of the association.
At 6pm, the crowd split up. The main programme featured performances by singer Aneta Langerová and the band Zrní. Those who did not mind the cold weather set off in a commemorative lantern procession around the important places associated with the fateful years. A long snake wound through the streets of Brno, its lights symbolising the hope for change. The procession was illuminated mainly by blue MU and red BUT lanterns. “The main purpose of the parade is to commemorate important Czech – or rather Czechoslovak – historical events that have significantly influenced the development of our country. We are very proud of the long tradition,” said Kateřina Holíková, one of the two main organisers.
The procession stopped six times, not missing Moravské and Komenského squares, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Law, Kounic Residence Halls and the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Brno University of Technology. Each stop was accompanied by an expert commentary by Ondřej Varaďa and Tatiana Petková from the Masaryk Historians’ association. At each of the stops, the participants could commemorate the events by lighting a candle. The journey was accompanied by Czech music from the 1960s and 1970s playing from a sound car.
“I like 17 November celebrations, it’s good to remember the historical events. Those who were there were actually much like us,” commented one of the participants, Gabriel Canales, a student of law and religions. “I wanted to learn more about 17 November,” said law student Kateřina Ryšavá about her motivation for attending. “And we like lanterns,” they both added with a laugh.
“Our commemorative event is meaningful because each year it helps to spread awareness and commemorate the atrocities committed by totalitarian regimes,” said Ondřej Varaďa at Kraví hora. The event ended with the singing of the Czech, Slovak and students’ anthems.
The author of the article is a student at the Faculty of Social Studies and a member of the M Magazine’s student team.