On May 7, 1928, the streets of Bucharest, the capital of Rumania, were abuzz with the arrival of two long columns of peasants marching towards the city. The protesters, numbering over 200,000, were driven by a demand for a change in government, with 200,000 peasants and laborers convening at Alba Julia the previous day to pledge their support for the cause. Julio Maniu, leader of the peasants, was instrumental in bringing the issue to the attention of the regency, but his efforts were met with a stern refusal. The regency, led by Vintila Bratianu’s government, flatly rejected Maniu’s demand for Bratianu’s resignation, stating that there was no need for it. The peasants, however, were undeterred, and their march towards Bucharest was seen as a popular manifestation of their discontent. Ten fighting planes flew overhead, surveying the ranks of the protesters, but the march was marked by a surprising lack of violence, with no bloodshed anticipated. The peasants’ march was seen as a bold and unprecedented move, with each participant acting on their own initiative and without any prior authorization. The question on everyone’s mind was whether the regency would eventually yield to the peasants’ demands, or whether the protesters would be met with force.
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Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Public Corruption
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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