Two days before the anniversary of the First Quarter Storm (FQS) on January 26, various youth formations, organizations, student councils, and campus publications in the university belt under the Youth Movement Against Tyranny- Metro Manila (YMAT) launched a broad campaign opposing the state of “unrest and tyranny of President Rodrigo Duterte”.
In the cluster-wide assembly, the youth alliance said they gathered to “remember the martyrdom and great sacrifices of youth activists and protesters during Martial Law” and to lead the “youth quake” in the university belt “as the current administration unmasks its fascist rule.”
In a statement during the assembly, YMAT Metro Manila slammed Duterte’s leadership that has already claimed the lives of “the poor and innocent” and the undermining of democratic institutions to consolidate powers “for the installation of a fascist dictatorship.”
“Duterte and other reactionary forces must be held liable for the crimes against humanity and destruction of lives and livelihood in our country,” the group stated.
“We draw inspiration from the massive protests led by the students in the university belt during the First Quarter Storm to overthrow Marcos’ rule of darkness. As the past haunts us today, we will ring the bells in U-belt to form more alliances against tyranny,” the group added.
The youth alliance called on the youth to join them on February 1 (Youth National Day of Action against Fascism) and February 23 (EDSA People Power Commemoration) “to defeat the return of a madman who is wreaking havoc on the Filipino people”.
Signing the manifesto of unity, the alliance vowed to launch more massive and broad protest actions against the “tyranny and strongman leadership” of the Duterte administration.
