This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On November 6, 2019, hundreds of schoolchildren in Lebanon skipped school to join anti-government protests, demanding better education and job opportunities.
Protests began on October 17, 2019, and have continued for nearly three weeks. The demonstrations have been marked by road closures, but on November 6, 2019, protesters adopted a new tactic, gathering around key state institutions instead.
At the Palace of Justice in Beirut, hundreds of protesters demanded an independent judiciary and an end to political interference. One placard read, "We don't want judges who receive orders."
Another group of protesters gathered near the central bank, accusing it of aggravating the country's economic crisis.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned last week, but remains in his post in a caretaker capacity while rival politicians haggle over the make-up of a new government.
The protesters have expressed mounting frustration with the slow pace of the coalition talks.
