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Lebanon protests also bring Syrians, Palestinians out onto the streets

Many of the 1.5 million Syrians and 174,000 Palestinians in Lebanon are taking part in the recent protests.
Demonstrators stand next to Lebanese army soldiers during ongoing anti-government protests at a highway in Jal el-Dib, Lebanon, October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis - RC1C59F962A0

For the seventh day in a row, the Lebanese masses take to the streets, trying to keep the momentum going on a movement that was born seemingly out of thin air, for fear of it slipping through their fingers. Artists reclaim public spaces with graffiti and music, and manouche stands supply the protesters with an energy boost. 

But it is not only the Lebanese nationals who are out on the streets — the non-Lebanese residents are also there. The latest numbers state that there are more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees and about 174,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, and many are protesting at Riad El Solh Square. The Lebanese melting pot, colored by intersecting regional trauma, makes it possible for different groups to protest and express hope together.

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