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ROBERT TONSING/AP/Press Association Images
A human chain is taking place in Temple Bar to mark the 25th anniversary of the Baltic chain
Three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – demonstrated their solidarity in their quest for independence by forming the human chain.
A BALTIC HUMAN chain is taking place in Temple Bar today to mark the 25th anniversary of a peaceful political demonstration in the Baltics.
On August 23, 1989 – almost a million people joined hands to form a 600 kilometre-long human chain across the three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
It stretched the length of their homelands to protest against Soviet occupation.
It marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany which led to the occupation of the Baltic states in 1940.
The human chain showed the will of the three Baltic States to restore their independence and they later succeeded in gaining their freedom.
So what’s happening in Dublin?
Members of the Baltic communities will join hands to form a human chain running from the Central Bank Plaza down Fownes Street Lower and winding its way down Temple Bar at 12:15 this afternoon.
Lithuanians, Estonians and Latvians – dressed in their traditional costumes -will represent over 80,000 Lithuanians, 25,000 Latvians and 8,000 Estonians living in Ireland.
It will last for 15 minutes and anybody can come along to participate in the human chain. This will be the first time that the Baltic Way has been re-enacted in Ireland.
The organisers are hoping that the human chain will remind people that “freedom cannot be seen as given but that it can be achieved in a peaceful way”.
The Baltic Way event will take place from 11am to 5pm with baltic craft markets, music and traditional folk dancing.
The Lord Mayor and representatives from Latvian, Estonian and Lithuania embassies will take part in the opening ceremony at 12 noon.
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