A woman wrapped in the Lebanese flag at the Lebanese American Heritage Club, Aug. 25

DEARBORN — Dozens of Lebanese Americans gathered at the Lebanese American Heritage Club on Tuesday, Aug. 25, to stand in solidarity with citizens of their homeland, who are protesting against corruption and poor services.

“You Stink,” an apolitical campaign, mostly led by young activists, has been on the rise in Lebanon since trash started piling up in city streets. The crisis started when the contract of Beirut’s garbage collecting company expired last month with no replacement in place. 

Lebanon boasts political and individual freedoms compared to the rest of the Middle East. But since “You Stink” protests have grown in popularity and garnered international headlines, security forces have beaten, arrested and fired at protesters.

The Lebanese Americans’ gathering on Tuesday was a message of support to those activists against the “corrupt” state.

Lebanon has a parliamentary sectarian power-sharing system. However, lawmakers, who managed to extend their own terms have failed to elect a new head of state. The country has been without a president since May of 2014. Electricity can be off for more than 12 hours a day. Patronage is rampant, and corruption runs like blood in the veins of the political class.

The piles of trash in the streets seem to have turned the people against the entire regime. The name of the campaign is directed at politicians– “You Stink.”

Over the weekend, the police clashed with protesters in downtown Beirut. According to activists, security forces used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and live ammunition to disperse the demonstrations. Police even shortly erected a wall around the Grand Serail, the headquarter of the Lebanese government, to fortify it against citizens’ rage. 

Video footage show protesters being beaten, called names and handcuffed by the security forces.

Now the “You Stink” movement is calling for an investigation of the crackdown. Activists are also demanding an immediate solution to the trash crisis by funding municipalities to carry the responsibility of cleaning the streets and getting rid of the garbage.

They are demanding holding politicians who have caused the trash crisis accountable and stripping the Parliament, which has extended its own mandate, of its legal legitimacy.

Young activists at the Lebanese American Heritage Club (LAHC) held signs that read, “#AmericaWithBeirut” on Tuesday.

Adnan Barazi, 17, said it is “terrible” how the Lebanese government exploits the people without providing basic services.

“There is no electricity,” he said. “They don’t pick up the garbage, and now they do not want the people to protest.”

The Lebanese American teenager sent a message of support to the protesters in Beirut. “Keep doing what you’re doing. We know it’s hard. But you have to fight. We believe in you.”

Ali Khashab urged unity among the protesters. 

“It does not matter what your religion is or what political party you follow, you have to be one hand to achieve your goals,” he said in a message to the Lebanese people. 

Khashab added that Lebanese expatriates have a responsibility to support their brethren back home. 

Nye Rahal, 19, demanded the protesters to remain resilient. 

“Do give up to violence,” she said. “Don’t give in to politicians.”

Hassan Harb, who moved to the United States 20 days ago after witnessing the beginning of the anti-trash protests, said the movement has grown in numbers and impact.

“That’s why the government has been more brutal,” he continued. “It is a good start to achieve better living standards for the entire country.”

Hussein Hachem, the chairman of the LAHC’s Youth Leadership Committee, promised to convey the Lebanese protesters’ demands to U.S. lawmakers. 

“We will deliver a message, so we can put some pressure on the Lebanese government to do what the Lebanese people want,” Hachem said. 

Charlie Kadado, the editor in chief of the Lebanese Examiner, said politicians first dismissed the protesters, but now people are listening.

“Lebanon is an incredible country, and it is our responsibility to help maintain it,” he said. “We are putting all political associations to the side. We are putting all religious beliefs to the side. We are standing up for being Lebanese. We are standing up for human rights, for sustainable solutions, and for the right to peacefully protest.”

A statement by “You Stink” activists called on Lebanese citizens around the world “to support all our efforts by protesting in front of the Lebanese Embassies abroad.”

Activist Mario Ramadan, a research analyst who has participated in the recent protests, also urged Lebanese expatriates to stand with the demonstrators.

“There are more Lebanese outside their country than Lebanese in this country,” he said. “Those citizens have been forced out of their country to make a decent living and/or to live in peace and security.”

Ramadan said he has not seen a single flag or slogan relating to any political party at the demonstrations.

“The politicians have tried to ‘ride the wave’ to take advantage of the movement,” he told The Arab American News from Beirut via email. “But they have faced strict rejection from the people on the ground. I can say confidently that the people on the streets share one thing in common. That is their hate to corruption and the corrupt ruling class.”

Ramadan said the crackdown on protesters was was unjustified, saying that security forces fired rubber bullets indiscriminately at the protesters, while firing live rounds in the air, “as if the law of gravity does not apply on their bullets.” 

He added that the protesters acted in self-defense when they threw objects at the police.

“If I throw back the grenade you threw at me while doing nothing, then I’m not conducting an act of aggression,” Ramadan said. “I’m simply defending myself. I’m neither willing to faint nor willing to give up my rights.”

Despite the bleak realities of the Lebanese political system, Ramadan remains hopeful about the fate of this wave of protests.

“I work for us to succeed,” he said. “But even if we fail, I will raise my head proudly as a patriot who has done something for his country other than breaking it apart.”