What events started the Velvet Revolution in November 1989?

The Velvet Revolution was triggered by a series of student-led demonstrations in November 1989 that escalated into a nationwide movement against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.12

The specific events that initiated the revolution were:

• November 16, 1989: Students in Bratislava gathered for a peaceful demonstration.12
• November 17, 1989: A student march took place in Prague. While the march was officially approved to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the suppression of a student demonstration during the German occupation, participants began to openly criticize the communist regime.12

The police responded to the Prague march with brutality, an act that served as the catalyst for the broader revolution. Emboldened by these events and the lack of Soviet intervention, the protests spread rapidly, gaining significant momentum in the country's industrial centers. These demonstrations eventually led to the formation of the Civic Forum and the Public Against Violence, forcing the communist authorities to negotiate and ultimately leading to the end of one-party rule.123