Central Beirut has been recently rocked with protests demanding an immediate solution to the trash crisis that saw tons of garbage sit uncollected in Beirut and cities in Mount Lebanon for more than a week.
On August 22, more than 3,000 people answered the call of a group of activists, under the umbrella of Tol3et Ri7etkom (You Stink) to protest the inefficacy of the government. The peaceful protest quickly turned violent when riot police were deployed, and tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets were used in order to disperse the crowd.
Lebanon's MPs, who have illegally extended their tenure twice, have been unable to vote for a president or pass a new electoral law.
The initial spate of violence sparked a bigger turn out the next day, with almost 10,000 gathering to demand the immediate resignation of the Environment Minister Mohamad Machnouk and the holding of parliamentary elections. This time around, the crackdown left 403 injured and one in critical condition.
Monday morning, a wall made of concrete blocks was erected to stand as a barrier between protesters and the Grand Serail, where Cabinet sessions are usually held.
Undeterred, artists and activists flocked to Riad al-Solh street in downtown Beirut to paint their demands, creating a jarring if somewhat chaotic portrait of Lebanon's political reality. The wall, which people have dubbed "The Wall of Shame," was dismantled Tuesday on order from Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Twitter users were quick to document the art on the wall:
And while the canvases that showed the creativity of a nation demanding answers and accountability are being displaced, the protests are likely to continue.