Collective Action

Lebanese cautiously welcomed Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation Tuesday in Downtown Beirut, following violent clashes between protesters and supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.

On the 13th day of nationwide protests, a mob destroyed and burned tents belonging to protesters in Downtown Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square and Riad al-Solh, after beating demonstrators who were blocking the nearby “Ring Bridge.”

Hariri’s announcement came shortly after riot police and the Army dispersed the attackers and pushed them out of Downtown Beirut.

Martyrs’ Square was empty and subdued shortly after Hariri’s announcement, save for dozens of people gathering to clean up the wreckage from the clashes.

Crowds gradually gathered in Martyrs’ Square as the evening progressed, while scores of protesters returned to the western side of the “Ring Bridge,” which had emptied following the earlier clashes.

While the mood there initially seemed more energetic than in Martyrs’ Square, an air of hesitation and fatigue could also be felt. In response, some members of the crowd tried to lift their spirits by playing drums and singing.

Crowds in Riad al-Solh, one of the main sites of the earlier clashes, remained thin in the evening, the space mainly occupied by security forces personnel who regulated entry into the area.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media showed protesters in Tripoli celebrating by the hundreds. Green, red and white balloons distributed among the crowd formed an aerial image of the Lebanese flag.

Hundreds of celebrating protesters also congregated in Sidon. However, supporters of Hariri held a solidarity stand in the neighborhood of Al-Najsa, where they raised pictures of the outgoing prime minister and Future Movement banners.

Protesters took to the streets Oct. 17 against proposed tax hikes by the government. While the government withdrew its proposals, the people remained on the streets, demanding the removal of the ruling class, an end to the sectarian-based ruling system, early parliamentary elections and the return of “looted public funds.” - Additional reporting by Wael Taleb, Nick Newsom and Mohammed Zaatari