Prague Protest Over Public Media Draws Up to 450,000, Organizers Say
Between 350,000 and 450,000 people gathered on Prague's Letná Plain on Sunday, November 15, to defend public-service media, according to Mikuláš Minář, chairman of the organizing group Milion chvilek. Police confirmed it was the largest protest since the independent Czech Republic was founded in 1993.
If the organizers' figure holds, it would be the biggest Czech demonstration since the mass gatherings of late 1989. The rally came two days before the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.
What prompted the rally
Protesters oppose a government plan to scrap the license fees that fund Czech Television and Czech Radio and pay for them from the state budget instead. Critics fear that change would give politicians more leverage over the broadcasters.
Milion chvilek pro demokracii (Million Moments for Democracy) demands that the bill be withdrawn and that the public debate the broadcasters' future. The rally was titled "Letná proti 4:36."
Many marchers also voiced opposition to government policy on justice, culture, security, healthcare and the environment. Students and signatories of Charter 77, the dissident manifesto of the communist era, addressed the crowd.
Order and logistics
People traveled in from across the country for the 2 p.m. start. Prague added metro and tram services and extra emergency medical cover. Traffic restrictions slowed departures from Letná.
The demonstration ended peacefully at about 4:45 p.m., and police reported no incidents.
Pressure on the government
Broadcasters had already staged a warning strike over the funding reform, with staff dressed in black. One pundit has called the fight a major test for the Babiš government.
Organizers said before the rally that they would announce further action beyond the capital.
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