Once upon a time in Albania, an angry mob rose up against government oppression, and I was fortunate enough to bear witness to this historic event.
Actually, Albanians are no strangers to rising up against oppression and corruption, and are some of the most fearless people I have ever known.
🧥 Only In Albania 🧔
A Surpise On Arrival
I lived in Albania for several months during 2015, and happened to arrive a day after the renegade ganja growing village of Lazarat was raided and finally shut down.
With my turban and dreadlocks, and being the only foreigner on the plane, I and my bags were thoroughly searched just before exiting the airport in Tirana.
No More Lazarat, No More Herb
Marijuana went from being one of the most abundant things in Albania, to one of the hardest things to find. Lazarat, a tiny little village in Albania, was responsible for a significant percentage of marijuana sold on the streets of western Europe.
Although this particular protest/mob had nothing directly to do with Lazarat, the youth of the country was already quite upset with marijuana scarcity. If you haven't heard of Lazarat, you should watch some YouTube videos about, the place is legendary and was feared for years by the government.
Hoxha And The Bunkers
Enver Hoxha ruled Albania with an iron first 40+ years, and the country was more isolate than North Korea is today, hard to believe, and yet the story of this country is not well known.
Although Hoxha's reign is long over, a physical memory that remains all over the country are concrete defense bunkers that he had constructed in anticipation of an invasion that would never come.
He nearly bankrupted the country building bunker after bunker, and they were so well-built they are nearly impossible to destroy, and most still remain to this day, dotting the landscape of the entire country.
Huge Mistake
Edi Rama and the ruling party were already treading on thin ice from a number of corruption allegations, the Lazarat debacle, and many other public relations disasters. It is hard to believe a decision was made to build a Hoxha style concrete bunker in downtown Tirana, but they did it.
Not wanting to relive any memories of the past, the people took to the streets, and I had only been in the country a few weeks, so it was quite a raw window into the psyche and political feelings of the Albanian people.
Power To The People
I fell in love with the country and its people, and the way they handled themselves throughout this whole ordeal was unlike any protest, mob, or rioting I have ever seen in any other country.
The Albanians came out quickly in numbers, were organized with a clear mission in a matter of hours, and had the government regretting all it's decisions by the end of the day. Sometimes you gotta put the fear back in the government, and the Albanians are among the best people in the world suited for such a job, fearless.
🙏 THANKS FOR READING & WATCHING 🙏
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▶️ 3Speak