Today, as part of the event “the Avenue Reads,” Tunisians have occupied Habib Bourguiba Avenue, the symbolic street on which the demonstration of the 14th January, after which the former president felt compelled to flee the country, took place. Only this time, they have occupied the street to read. Each one was armed with a book they brought with them orbought one from the nearby libraries. They sat in cafis all along the avenue or sat down on the ground occuping every corner including the spaces around the polic cars. People gathered there to celebrate reading and basically send a strong message, one of peace and resistance against ignorance, regression and police brutality. It is worth reminding that demonstrations on Habib Bourguiba Avenue were banned after an illegal decision taken by the ministry of the interior and repealed after the events of April 9, when poeple gathered in defiance of the ban and were brutally faced with sticks and tear gas. The event   today was a huge success.

“La grande classe !!!” (The Huge Classrom) Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Tunis 18 avril 2012. Photography Hamideddine Bouali