Baltusia

[Elena1012]

Kirk ousted as hardliners take reign; Martial Law declared as crackdowns begin.

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September 7th, 5639
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The recent protests led by the decentralized Silver Movement have continued to define the country lately. With the martyring of Victoria Dungan, calls for reform have only escalated. For Syndicate Kirk, this halted momentum for reforms. The lack of a proper response to the rising chaos only worsened when the Kalistani Empress made a statement, condemning both the Silver Movement, and the Government. Combined with troops being put on alert across the Lucid River and any faith in Kirk shattered. As such, the CCC voted in a strong margin to oust Kirk, replacing him with Aiden Holmes, a prominent conservative hardliner.

Holmes first act as newly inaugurated Syndicate has been to declare martial law across the entire country, authorizing the military to take over in place of the police and begin immense crackdowns. Raids on universities, forced dispersions of protests, and mass arrests. However, despite taking a strongly harsh stance against the Silver Movement, it has been reported that even reformists within the CCC have been arrested. Holmes has called for unity, cooperation and support as the military looks to clean house. 

However, it's unlikely that this will be the end of the Silver Movement as there has been resistance. While fortunately nothing on the scale of proper violence, there have been protests that have refused to cooperate, and the declaration of martial law has lead to some industries going on strike, harming the economy and strengthing fears of a recession. While a general strike is so far not on the table, the fact that strikes in solidarity with the Silver Movement over martial law, especially when they had previously been neutral speaks volumes to the current state of the country. As the Silver Movement is cracked down upon and reformists are ostracized, the calls for reform are being silenced, and replaced with calls for revolution. With rumours circulating around the nation about a potential mass mobilization protest on the capital, Johnston, anxiety across the nation is at an all time high.

Rutledge, the start of the protests has found itself particularly hit hard by martial law. It's been subject to the most extreme measures that barely qualify as legal. However, Rutledge has also seen the strongest resistance with most protests escalating into riots. Strikes, sit ins, protests, riots, any form of civil disobedience has been applied in Rutledge as the Silver Movement remains strong, or stubborn in the city.