Chapter 22 Summary

On May Day 1990, the regular May Day Festival of labor is held. Although a little less "Communist" than previous years, the parade is light-hearted and festive. About an hour into the parade, however, the democrats arrive and begin marching onto Red Square. Carrying anti-Communism banners and pro-Yeltsin/Sakharov posters, more than 10,000 democrats crowd onto the square, facing Gorbachev and the other Party leadership positioned on the Lenin Mausoleum. Gorbachev and the others watch quietly - as if the activities were a normal part of the festivities--as the protesters shout "Down with the Party," "Down with Gorbachev." After about 25 minutes, Gorbachev and the other Party leaders leave the celebration.

A good part of the May Day protest crowd is composed of young people. They did not grow up under Stalin's terror like their parents or grandparents, and they were not affected by the mass...