Students' revolution occupies cities in Lebanon as protests enter 22nd day

On Thursday, protests in Lebanon officially entered their 22nd day. Students and faculty members have really embraced the revolution from the start. In some cases, their protests led to the cancelation of classes. But many universities and schools resumed classes in recent days; some reopened towards the end of last week, others beginning of this week.

Students from various educational institutions have proven that business won't go back to usual. So they're skipping classes and taking to the streets instead. It's not just happening in institutions in Beirut but in other cities and towns across the country including Tripoli, Jbeil, Zahle, Saida, and Tyre to name a few. 

Students have even launched an Arabic hashtag dedicated to their walkouts titled "Students' Revolution," which has seen many share photos and videos of the protests happening in their surroundings. 

"We can resume our education later, because what's the point if there's no future, no jobs and we have to sit at home," one high school student told Al Jazeera.

It's not just private institutions being targeted. People have held massive protests in front of public institutions including, but not limited to, Lebanon's Central Bank, Electricité du Liban, Education Ministry, and state-owned telecom companies Alfa and Touch. 

"We want free education and to be able to work," another protester who stood in front of the Education Ministry told The Daily Star. "In order to get into Lebanese University you need [endless amounts of] wasta," he added.

Several Twitter users and activists have shared footage online of clashes that broke out between the Lebanese army and student protesters. 

In one video, shared by journalist Luna Safwan, one soldier threatened a group of high school students in Koura, a northern district in Lebanon, and warned them against roadblocks.

"Regardless of your age and gender, I will put anyone who blocks the road in the police truck," he can be heard saying.

On Oct.17, people in Lebanon took to the streets to demand their fundamental rights and call out the government's failure to fulfill its most basic obligations. What started as a spontaneous demonstration developed into a nationwide uprising that has witnessed a number of historic milestones. 

The revolution achieved its first major victory 13 days into the protests when Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation, citing a "dead-end" and the need for a "positive shock." While opponents have claimed the movement lacks a unified list of demands, protesters have been vocal about the purpose of their movement from the very start. Activists have emphasized that their uprising aims to tackle issues such as poverty, high prices versus low minimum wage, unemployment, incompetent public education institutes, misappropriation of public funds, and fatally expensive healthcare services.