Solemn ceremony marks brave student protest against communist takeover in 1948

Politicians, academics and students will hold a commemorative ceremony in Nerudova Street close to Prague Castle on Friday in memory of the student march to Prague Castle 74 years ago in support of freedom and democracy. It was a last-ditch attempt by students to prevent the communist seizure of power in 1948 and was the only public protest against the communist coup. The march, attended by around 5,000 students was brutally suppressed by the communist-controlled police and under immense pressure President Beneš made a fateful decision which opened the way to 40 years of dictatorship. Many of those who attended the protest were expelled from their universities and jailed for years.