"If you don't see me, I'll burn myself."
Mohamed Bouazizi was at the end of his rope. He stood alone in the streets of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, the very picture of desperation and defiance.
Bouazizi would soon become widely known as a symbol—a spark—but for now, he was just a street vendor. After facing endless corruption and finally having his cart confiscated by the local government, it was time for the most extreme form of protest imaginable.
Driven over the edge, Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire, just outside the local governor's office.
Very quickly, Bouazizi’s act became an emblem of protest against systemic corruption, police brutality, and a lack of economic opportunities. This sacrifice resonated deeply with the Tunisian populace, laying bare the simmering undercurrents of discontent that had long festered beneath the surface.
Facebook to the Rescue
In Tunisia, the sounds of protest filled the streets, with the people utterly fed up with the oppressive re…
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