How come we are the only ones who can't manage to protest successfully??

[rainbow4321]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RUSSIA_PROTESTS?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Retiree protests spread across Russia

MOSCOW (AP) -- Massive demonstrations across Russia posed a major challenge to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, and Moscow authorities bowed to the demands of protesting retirees by restoring some of their state benefits, such as free public transportation and subsidized medicine.

As many as 10,000 protesters blocked major avenues in downtown St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city. The rally in Putin's home city appeared to be the largest protest so far, and some of its participants called on Putin to step down.

In Moscow suburbs, hundreds of retirees have repeatedly blocked highways, paralyzing traffic for hours. About 1,000 elderly protesters gathered again under red flags Saturday in Khimki on the capital's northwestern fringe, calling for the dismissal of the Moscow regional Gov. Boris Gromov. "Putin's policy is that of a genocide," said one elderly protester, Mikhail Kononov. "The government is waiting for all of us to die."

The protests began after a new law that took effect Jan. 1 replaced years-old benefits for retirees, the disabled, war veterans and others with cash payments. The size and extent of the protests are an unusual sign of discontent in Russia, where most citizens have either supported Putin or accepted Kremlin initiatives with little dissent

[NYCGirl]

1. Perhaps because the Russian people were not allowed to express dissent

until quite recently, historically speaking. They've been forced to be quiet for a long, long time.

[ClayZ]

2. Try, Try again, Jan 20 NATIONWIDE protests....

http://www.notinourname.net/archive/20jan05-actions.htm

Wear BLACK for Mourning!

ClayZ

[bipolarity1]

3. Russians are making up for

lost time!