Hands – Velvet Revolution Memorial

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The Velvet Revolution Commemoration Monument honors the pivotal events that ignited the revolution in Czechoslovakia. Situated in Prague at Národní třída, the monument marks the site where thousands of peaceful protesters converged on November 17, 1989, to vocally express their discontent with the ruling communist regime. The protest was abruptly halted by a phalanx of riot police stationed along Národní Street, who blocked all escape routes and brutally attacked the students. The memorial, titled Hands, is a bronze plaque crafted by Otakar Příhoda and Miroslav Krátký. Its inscription proudly proclaims "17. 11. 1989." Eight human hands extend from the board, each conveying different gestures: the triumphant raised palm, a ubiquitous symbol of the November 1989 demonstrations; an outstretched empty hand, referencing the rallying cry "We have bare hands." The commemorative monument serves as a revered site for celebrating the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy. Each year, dignitaries and citizens alike pay their respects by laying wreaths and flowers beneath it.