It was like a parade

On 20 November 1989, Jiřina Dostálová - a dissident - took part in a silent demonstration in what used to be at that time Gottwald, today the Krakonoš Square in Trutnov. The demonstration was organized in support of the protest against the Communist regime by the students in Prague, at the Národní Avenue. Jiřina Dostálová recalls that in Trutnov, only a handful of the supporters of the Charter 77 dared to join the demonstration which was surrounded by the members of the police and secret police agents...“We would ask people standing in the crowd to come and join our demonstration but each time somebody would step out from the crowd the police came and immediately pushed him back. They left us alone but they wouldn't permit anybody else to join us. It was as if we were at a parade. There was a lot of people standing on the sidewalks and looking on as we walked by. We felt that they were in favor of our demonstration but they weren't allowed to join us by the police.” Nevertheless, only two days later, a public demonstration was held, which was attended by 200 – 300 people.