On a Wednesday evening in Riga near the Freedom Monument, supporters of non-governmental organizations gathered for a demonstration titled “Hands off civil society,” according to eyewitness accounts and reporting from the scene. The event was organized by “Protests,” a youth organization associated with the “Progressive” party. Participants carried signs with slogans such as “For a Saeima that keeps its word,” “Only in authoritarianism is civil society bad,” “Who is afraid of civil society?” and “Say no to urbanization, dombravizied, puntulizavied, kulbergizavied,” with several attendees wearing black at the request of organizers alongside Palestinian flags and symbols.
Did You Know? The gathering featured various chants, including “Repressions will not save the state,” “MPs, how so, where is democracy?”, “Kulberg, this is not cool,” and “NGOs strengthen, the coalition destroys,” while law enforcement monitored the proceedings.
Incidents and Security at the Riga Freedom Monument Demonstration
According to eyewitnesses on Facebook, the crowd size was small, but the atmosphere felt unpleasant. A Facebook post stated, “They surrounded us, they started pushing me, as a woman I felt unsafe in a ‘Progressives’ organized protest.” A conflict later broke out during the event when a separate group of youths approached the demonstration. Two youths in this group had the inscription “Latvia for Latvians” on their bodies, and they carried a poster reading “Enough funding immigrant entertainment,” as reported by attendees and observers.
State Police informed the LETA news agency that the youth group left the location after repeated police calls, and no individuals received any penalties during the event. Law enforcement officers actively oversaw the site while verbal exchanges occurred between the demonstration participants and the youth group.
Political Figures and NGO Representatives in Attendance
Several “Progressive” party members participated in the gathering alongside various NGO representatives. Beata Jonite, head of the advocacy department for the organization “Centrs Marta” who is scheduled to run this autumn in the 15th Saeima elections from the “New Unity” party alliance list, was among those present at the Freedom Monument.
Organizers from the youth organization “Protests” emphasized that non-governmental organizations fill critical policy gaps that state administration alone cannot manage. According to the organization, NGOs reach people in regional areas, assist during crises, offer practical solutions, and operate across sectors including seniors, families, care culture, sports, environment, science, and human rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who organized the Wednesday evening demonstration in Riga?
The demonstration was organized by “Protests,” a youth organization linked to the “Progressive” party.
What were some of the main slogans and demands displayed at the protest?
Participants brought posters reading “For a Saeima that keeps its word,” “Only in authoritarianism is civil society bad,” “Who is afraid of civil society?” and chanted phrases like “Repressions will not save the state” and “NGOs strengthen, the coalition destroys.”
Did police issue any fines or penalties during the event?
According to the State Police and the LETA news agency, no individuals received any penalties during the gathering.
?How do you view the role of non-governmental organizations in bridging policy gaps within regional communities?