‘People are discussing politics and poetry’

Tunisian socialist Mohammed told Socialist Worker that his mother Sadiha and his aunt Khwala went to greet the “Liberation Caravan”.

“There were perhaps 3,000 people gathered to welcome the travellers,” they said.

“People of all ages were there—whole families together. Some arrived with kids on their shoulders. They had walked many miles and some had been helped by buses and vans.

“They carried placards calling on the government to go.

“At nightfall, the protesters declared they would camp in the square till they won their demands. So we went home to get blankets to help them.

“People from some of the poorest parts of Tunis brought food to the square for them. Young people organised to sweep the square clean every hour. And everywhere people were discussing politics and reciting poetry.

“It felt like a festival.

“As we left the square, we passed the army. I said to the soldiers, ‘Make sure you protect the people from the bad guys’, pointing to the riot police. ‘Of course,’ they replied. ‘We are here to protect the people’.

“However, the next day, the police attacked protesters with tear gas and batons.”