By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/photos-you-stink-campaign Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos: ‘You Stink’ campaign decries more than garbage buildup in Beirut World Aug 25, 2015 9:25 AM EDT Lebanese protesters clashed with police over the weekend, fed up with the government’s inability to collect trash over the past few weeks. But the protests turned to mocking when security forces erected a concrete wall around government buildings in Beirut. We have our very own Berlin Wall now. — Anis Tabet (@AnisTabet23) August 24, 2015 So much for awareness of symbolism, state erects wall almost exactly where divide between West and East Beirut was: pic.twitter.com/lyrjx7fn9u — Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) August 24, 2015 Organizers of the “You Stink” campaign called off large-scale protests after police fired rubber bullets and doused demonstrators with water hoses. The movement is now calling for the removal of government officials because of a gridlocked political system. In addition to the trash pickup problem, the government is dealing with a dilapidated water and electricity system and a growing population of Syrian refugees. The power-sharing government has been operating without a president for 15 months, and the parliament has lengthened its term twice without elections. Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk toured the streets in Beirut, defended the actions of police and rejected calls for his resignation. Cabinet officials are holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday over the protests. Lebanese protesters are sprayed with water during a demonstration against the government near Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s offices in Beirut on Aug. 23. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Lebanese protesters are sprayed with water during a demonstration against corruption and garbage collection problems near the government palace in Beirut on Aug. 22. Photo by Jamal Saidi/Reuters Garbage cascades down the bank of the Beirut River in Lebanon on Aug. 24. Organizers of the “You Stink” campaign called for fresh demonstrations against the government for failing to solve a garbage disposal problem. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters A man sifts through garbage piled on the bank of the Beirut River in Lebanon on Aug. 24. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk (center) tours the streets of Beirut on Aug. 24, a day after protests against the government turned into violent clashes with police. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters Workers unload concrete barriers to tighten security around government offices in Beirut on Aug. 24 after two days of protests turned violent. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters A member of Lebanon’s security forces peeks through a concrete wall erected around the government palace in Beirut on Aug. 24. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters People sit along a concrete barrier erected by security forces on Aug. 24 to protect government buildings after protests over corruption turned violent. One banner reads, “I swear to God, I thought I was at the borders with Israel.” Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Members of Lebanon’s security services escort demonstrators marching toward the government building in Beirut on Aug. 24. Several hundred Lebanese protesters chanted anti-government slogans as they marched on Monday after two days of much larger rallies that descended into violence. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters Follow @NewsHourWorld By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Lebanese protesters clashed with police over the weekend, fed up with the government’s inability to collect trash over the past few weeks. But the protests turned to mocking when security forces erected a concrete wall around government buildings in Beirut. We have our very own Berlin Wall now. — Anis Tabet (@AnisTabet23) August 24, 2015 So much for awareness of symbolism, state erects wall almost exactly where divide between West and East Beirut was: pic.twitter.com/lyrjx7fn9u — Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) August 24, 2015 Organizers of the “You Stink” campaign called off large-scale protests after police fired rubber bullets and doused demonstrators with water hoses. The movement is now calling for the removal of government officials because of a gridlocked political system. In addition to the trash pickup problem, the government is dealing with a dilapidated water and electricity system and a growing population of Syrian refugees. The power-sharing government has been operating without a president for 15 months, and the parliament has lengthened its term twice without elections. Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk toured the streets in Beirut, defended the actions of police and rejected calls for his resignation. Cabinet officials are holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday over the protests. Lebanese protesters are sprayed with water during a demonstration against the government near Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s offices in Beirut on Aug. 23. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Lebanese protesters are sprayed with water during a demonstration against corruption and garbage collection problems near the government palace in Beirut on Aug. 22. Photo by Jamal Saidi/Reuters Garbage cascades down the bank of the Beirut River in Lebanon on Aug. 24. Organizers of the “You Stink” campaign called for fresh demonstrations against the government for failing to solve a garbage disposal problem. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters A man sifts through garbage piled on the bank of the Beirut River in Lebanon on Aug. 24. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk (center) tours the streets of Beirut on Aug. 24, a day after protests against the government turned into violent clashes with police. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters Workers unload concrete barriers to tighten security around government offices in Beirut on Aug. 24 after two days of protests turned violent. Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters A member of Lebanon’s security forces peeks through a concrete wall erected around the government palace in Beirut on Aug. 24. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters People sit along a concrete barrier erected by security forces on Aug. 24 to protect government buildings after protests over corruption turned violent. One banner reads, “I swear to God, I thought I was at the borders with Israel.” Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Members of Lebanon’s security services escort demonstrators marching toward the government building in Beirut on Aug. 24. Several hundred Lebanese protesters chanted anti-government slogans as they marched on Monday after two days of much larger rallies that descended into violence. Photo by Aziz Taher/Reuters Follow @NewsHourWorld