Dandellion Revolution

## Introduction

The Dandellion Revolution is the term used to describe a series of political insurrections that happened against Albert Quesandro's militaristic regimes 1970 by a mixture of liberal & socialist parties and coalitions across the country. The revolution ended with the storming of the Presidential Palace and proclamation of a revolution, with Albert Quesandro being ousted and trialed the next day.

## Overview

Following the victory of the Socialist Labour Party in the 1966 elections of San Amaro, held on July 8th, the new President of San Amaro, Jonas Gilberto had advocated for closer ties with the USSR and the People's Republic of China. With it's sphere of influence having been threatened, the United States, under President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration had sponsored a group of disillusioned, anti-communist generals in the army lead by General Albert Quesandro who were given US support in exchange for taking over the government and maintaining close ties with the United States. On August 5th, 1966, the San Amaroan Army blocked off entrances to the Presidential Palace and the National Assembly building and had rounded up and arrested government members. Television broadcasts were shut off to an emergency statement by General Quesandro.

## Beginning

Following the banning of political parties and the restriction of press freedom in San Amaro under Quesandro's militaristic regime, the country remained under strict government control; almost all aspects of citizen's lives were controlled, education served to spread government propaganda and was heavily biased. On October 7th, 1970, a student protest at the University of Ferdinandia, which had been attended by more than 1,000 student protestors was crushed by the entrance of military units and tanks, who had begun dispersing the protest by violently beating up the attending protestors at the scene, using tear gas and rubber bullets wounding and injuring the protestors heavily. Military units blocked and prevented a response from emergency units, with roads being blocked off to any and oncoming traffic; including emergency ambulances. This sparked major unrest all across the country, as human rights group viewed the event as horrifingly terrific and gruesome. A week later, a coalition of socialist - liberalist factions all across the country; consisting of political, trade and labour unions which had been working in secret had begun a large demonstration at the Presidential Palace in Ferdinandia, demanding Albert Quesandro's resignation and public apology; other than protestors, the civilian population of Ferdinandia largely supported the protest and was super enthusiastic, with public transport workers going on strike, such as taxi drivers driving protestors and demonstrators to the scene free of charge; bus drivers blocking off roads preventing military entrance, and the mass presence of demonstrators numbering at about 100,000; about 4 hours into the demonstration, the mass crowd had stormed the Presidential Palace with dandellion flowers in hand, overwhelming standing police units and palace security, Albert Quesandro was captured and ousted on October 14th. The National Assembly had convened the next day and had found Albert Quesandro guilty of treason and abuse of power, sentencing them to life imprisonment.

## Impact

Over the years, the Dandellion Revolution has served as a popular part of San Amaroan history, continuing to inspire today's political movements and views. It primarily serves with large popularity among socialist and liberal parties in the country, as an example of 'citizens taking back control'.