Collective Action

On the 19th day of the Lebanese uprising, people again blocked main highways across the country Monday after calling for a general strike to pressure the state to listen to their demands. Protesters started to block the roads Sunday night after tens of thousands gathered in Beirut’s Downtown for the third consecutive Sunday. Protesters managed to block the Ring bridge, the seaside highway north of Beirut was blocked at Nahr al-Kalb and Jal al-Dib. The highway was also blocked at Khaldeh, just south of Beirut, along with a road in south Lebanon connecting Hasbaya and Marjayoun. In north Lebanon’s Bohssas, the Army fired rubber bullets at protesters blocking the road, injuring one man. In Sidon, the Army opened all blocked roads. The protesters then gathered outside public administrations such as Electricite du Liban, the water establishment and state-run telecom company Ogero. Protesters said they were later forced by the Army Intelligence to move away from Ogero's gate. The road connecting Sidon to Beirut was blocked by rocks near the exit to Barja. A road in Metn’s Hemlaya was also blocked by cars, while others in Aley, Tripoli, Zahle, and Bekaa blocked roads in their areas.