This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011 [1].
Supporters of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad held a pro-regime rally today, carrying a 2.3km long Syrian flag in Mezzeh, in the capital Damascus, and chanting “The People Want Bashar Al Assad.”
On Twitter, Daniel shares a photo from the rally, and tweets [2]:
2300 meters long Syrian flag showcased on Mezzeh Autostrad in Damascus. People are gathering. http://twitpic.com/5bsc3a
[3]Daniel shares a photograph of the 2.3km flag on Twitter
Anan Tello adds [4]:
“Hold With Us the Biggest Syrian Flag” youth campaign started at al-Mezzeh Highway in Damas
Nai wishes [5] he could be there at the rally:
I wish I could be in Mezzeh for the march with the 2300 meters flag tomorrow. #Syrian #Damascus
Others on Twitter are not as excited. Haneen AlHassan notes [6] [ar]:
Also on Twitter, Foreign Policy editor Blake Hounshell shares his opinion that not all Syrians are on the same page. He tweets [7]:
@emile_hokayem @abuaardvark @acrossthebay Personally speaking, I am still not convinced a majority of Syrians want Bashar gone.
This split is evident on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, where pro and anti-regime pages have popped up since the beginning of the protests on March 15. There is an estimate of around 15 pages in support of the Syrian regime on Facebook alone. Among them is the Damascus News Network [8] (DNN), which has more than 3,000 followers. It updates them on daily events and discredits and attacks the protesters at every opportunity.
On today's rally in Mezzeh, the DNN notes [9]:
Almost Million Syrian people gathered spontaneously to participated in raising the Syrian flag (2300 Meter long and 18 Meters wide) to defend our president Bashar Alassad at Almazzeh Autostrad in Damascus. Aljadeed Lebabese TV , Addounia and the Syrian State TV channels aired live from the spot.
Meanwhile, ShaamNews [10], which is the main provider of user-generated footage and videos on the Syrian revolution and which also functions through a page on Facebook, does not mention today's pro-regime rally. It has more than 127,000 followers.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011 [1].