Syria: Virtual Sit-In Garners Global Support · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
As the uprising in Syria enters its eighth month, activists are getting creative to ensure global attention toward the situation does not cease.  An initiative by the popular Sham News Network–a grassroots news organization that emerged during the Syrian revolution to aggregate and publish news footage–asks individuals to submit videos in solidarity with Syrian protesters.  The videos, which are then posted to the SyrianSitIn YouTube account, contain versions of one statement:
I am in solidarity with the Syrian people. I reject the brutality and killing that the Syrian authorities are committing against the unarmed Syrian people. And because silence is participation in this crime, I declare my participation in the Syrian Sit-in on Youtube.
In this video [ar], a Syrian from the Occupied Golan Heights, expresses his solidarity:
A young woman from Algeria, with the flags of both Syria and her country in the background, shows her support [ar]:
The Syrian Sit-in initiative has received more than 200 submissions
The submissions are mainly in English and Arabic.  In some videos, the submitter's face is turned away from the camera or covered by a mask, presumably because he or she is located in Syria and doesn't want to be discovered.  Most submitters record the provided statement, while some add their own thoughts or wishes.  So far, the initiative has received nearly 250 videos from across the Arab world, as well as from the United States, Germany, Iceland, and Canada.
From Toronto, Canada, ‘The Ugly Truth’ posts a video in solidarity:
Member of Icelandic Parliament and NATO Parliamentary Assembly Birgitta Jonsdottir contributed a video:
“I wish to express my solidarity and my support to the brave Syrian people that have been protesting day after day, month after month, against all odds.”
Syrian-Spanish Global Voices contributor Leila Nachawati also contributed to the effort:
“I am joining the Syrian sit-in because Syrian people are an inspiration for anyone who believes in freedom, and justice, and human rights…And I'm very proud of my Syrian people and horrified by the level of brutality the Syrian regime is displaying.”
Those who wish to join the Syrian sit-in can do so by submitting their videos to SyrianHub@Gmail.com.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.