The People Power Revolution, also known as the #EDSA Revolution, was a series of non-violent protests and demonstrations that occurred in the Philippines in 1986. The movement was sparked by the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983 and was fueled by widespread frustration with the authoritarian rule of President Ferdinand Marcos.
Protesters, including nuns, priests, and ordinary citizens, gathered in large numbers on the streets of Manila, demanding democratic reforms and the end of the Marcos regime. The movement gained momentum in February 1986, when the government attempted to rig the presidential elections in favor of Marcos.
The protests culminated in a four-day stand-off on EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue), a major highway in Manila. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the street, defying martial law and calling for Marcos to step down. The military, initially sent to suppress the protests, eventually switched sides and joined the protesters, led by Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr.
The People Power Revolution is widely regarded as a model of peaceful, non-violent protest and is celebrated annually as a national holiday in the Philippines.
Protesters, including nuns, priests, and ordinary citizens, gathered in large numbers on the streets of Manila, demanding democratic reforms and the end of the Marcos regime. The movement gained momentum in February 1986, when the government attempted to rig the presidential elections in favor of Marcos.
The protests culminated in a four-day stand-off on EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue), a major highway in Manila. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the street, defying martial law and calling for Marcos to step down. The military, initially sent to suppress the protests, eventually switched sides and joined the protesters, led by Corazon Aquino, the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr.
The People Power Revolution is widely regarded as a model of peaceful, non-violent protest and is celebrated annually as a national holiday in the Philippines.