Protests are not uncommon in Bucharest. I've heard and seen many a chanting crowd since moving here (Taxi protest, Teacher's protest, etc). Locals often say, with a heavy tone of disdain, that these are not real protestors --- they are just puppets in a political scheme who are told when and where to assemble. You know, union leaders in league with corrupt politicians kind of thing. This notion was repeated so often that I began to believe it. That is why I was very intrigued by the protests that began in Bucharest on Friday the 13th, 2012. These have been spontaneous, unsanctioned, and in recent days violent gatherings made up of all kinds of Romanians. Young and old, educated and non, employed and unemployed...they're all on the streets together. To me this seems to be the real thing, The People's Protest.
