Down with Brute Force and Injustice! Performed in Front of City Council

23 July 2007

On Thursday, July 19, the Right to a City initiative and Zelena Akcija sang a version of the Padaj silo i nepravdo - Down with Brute Force and Injustice, its lyrics adapted specially for this occasion, to show clearly that they won�t give up on their demands.

According to the Lexicon of YU Mythology, the song celebrates the Hvar Rebellion (1510 � 1514), led by Matija Ivanic, who raised the local population, mostly peasants, against the terror of the noblemen. The rebellion of suppressed in blood, but like the great peasant revolt of Matija Gubec, remains a lasting symbol of the fight against tyranny.

The lyrics of the song were adapted to protest the devastation of the Donji Grad (Lower City) blocks with the adoption of the new General Urban Plan (debated today at the City Assembly) and its amendments, which never went through the process of public debate and greatly favour private investors.

Across the street were the protesters of the Project City, which don�t quite share the opinions held by the Right to a City Initiative. In the attempt to prevent the dignified appearance of Right to a City and Zelena Akcija, they started honking klaxons. Failing to disrupt the activists, they soon went silent, demonstrating the fact that they don�t have truly articulated counter-arguments.

For the text of the song, in Croatian, visit Kulturpunkt.hr.