26 year old Mohamed Bouazizi was having a difficult time making ends meet. The government was corrupt and it was hard to find a job, so Mohamed was unemployed. To make ends meet he sold fruits and vegetables from the back of his truck. This was his only source of income. Bouazizi did not have a permit to sell, which is required in his town of Sidi Bouzid which is near Tunisia's capital, Tunia.
On December 17, 2010 police took Bouazizi's fruits and vegetable's away for not having a permit and then slapped him in the face. He became infuriated. He then drenched himself in gasoline and set himself on fire outside the governor's office. He lived and was rushed to the nearest hospital, a hospital in Tunis. He was in critical condition and lived for two more weeks after the incident before passing away. He set himself on fire protesting unemployment. He wanted to make a statement, and he did.
The people were furious and wanted justice for Bouazizi's death. Riots started breaking out in Tunisia. Hundreds of kids gathered in the town and started breaking shop windows and damaging cars. The riot refused to settle so police started firing tear gas to get the kids to stop. The riots started expanding to other parts of the country.
On December 17, 2010 police took Bouazizi's fruits and vegetable's away for not having a permit and then slapped him in the face. He became infuriated. He then drenched himself in gasoline and set himself on fire outside the governor's office. He lived and was rushed to the nearest hospital, a hospital in Tunis. He was in critical condition and lived for two more weeks after the incident before passing away. He set himself on fire protesting unemployment. He wanted to make a statement, and he did.
The people were furious and wanted justice for Bouazizi's death. Riots started breaking out in Tunisia. Hundreds of kids gathered in the town and started breaking shop windows and damaging cars. The riot refused to settle so police started firing tear gas to get the kids to stop. The riots started expanding to other parts of the country.
Hundreds of protesters posted outside the regional government headquarters. Multiple videos posted on facebook show police blocking the people from getting closer to the building, but there was no footage of violence. These facebook posts were a big reason as to how people from around the country found out so fast. A brutal security crackdown then followed. Protests then reached the capital. The government then responded with even more brutality, something that had triggered these riots in the first place. They started arresting demonstrators, activists, and they also shut down the internet.
President Zine el- Abedin Ben Ali promised to create 300,000 jobs in hopes to end these riots, but it was too late. Protestors wanted the regime to fall and all power taken from the president, who had been in power for 23 years. Ben Ali and his family on January 14, 2011 fled the country taking refuge in Saudi Arabia.
President Zine el- Abedin Ben Ali promised to create 300,000 jobs in hopes to end these riots, but it was too late. Protestors wanted the regime to fall and all power taken from the president, who had been in power for 23 years. Ben Ali and his family on January 14, 2011 fled the country taking refuge in Saudi Arabia.
Sources:
"Arab Spring: A Research & Study Guide * الربيع العربي: Home." Home. Accessed March 11, 2015. http://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=31688&p=200750.
"Ben Ali Trial Date Set for June 20." YouTube. Accessed March 13, 2015
"Biography of Mohamed BOUAZIZI." African Success :. Accessed March 13, 2015.
"Mohamed Bouazizi - The Man Who Sparked The Revolution." YouTube. Accessed March 13, 2015.
"The Story of Mohamed Bouazizi, the Man Who Toppled Tunisia." International Business Times. Accessed March 11, 2015. http://www.ibtimes.com/story-mohamed-bouazizi-man-who-toppled-tunisia-255077.
"Witnesses Report Rioting in Tunisian Town." | Top News | Reuters. December 19, 2010. Accessed March 10, 2015. http://af.reuters.com/aAccessed March 11, 2015.
"Arab Spring: A Research & Study Guide * الربيع العربي: Home." Home. Accessed March 11, 2015. http://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=31688&p=200750.
"Ben Ali Trial Date Set for June 20." YouTube. Accessed March 13, 2015
"Biography of Mohamed BOUAZIZI." African Success :. Accessed March 13, 2015.
"Mohamed Bouazizi - The Man Who Sparked The Revolution." YouTube. Accessed March 13, 2015.
"The Story of Mohamed Bouazizi, the Man Who Toppled Tunisia." International Business Times. Accessed March 11, 2015. http://www.ibtimes.com/story-mohamed-bouazizi-man-who-toppled-tunisia-255077.
"Witnesses Report Rioting in Tunisian Town." | Top News | Reuters. December 19, 2010. Accessed March 10, 2015. http://af.reuters.com/aAccessed March 11, 2015.