human chain (politics)

{{short description|Demonstration in which people link their arms as a show of solidarity}}

A human chain is a form of demonstration in which people link arms or hands as a show of political solidarity.

The chains can involve thousands of people, with the world record being claimed in 2020 by Bihar, India, which was estimated to include 51.7 million people across {{convert|18000|km||abbr=}}, to support the government's efforts towards environment conservation and eradication of social evils.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/5-crore-bihar-people-form-human-chain-over-18000km-long-break-previous-records/articleshow/73387670.cms|title=5 crore Bihar people form human chain over 18,000km long, break previous records|website=The Times of India|date=19 January 2020 }} {{-}}

List of notable human chains

class="wikitable sortable"
Date ! Event ! Location ! Number of participants ! Purpose
{{ Date table sorting \| December 1982 }} \|Embrace the Base \|RAF Greenham Common Newbury, Berkshire, England \|30,000 (women) \|Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.
{{ Date table sorting \| 1 April 1983 }} \|{{convert\|14\|mi\|km\|adj=on}} human chain \|Greenham to Aldermaston and the ordnance factory at Burghfield \|70,000 (40,000 – 80,000) \|Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.
{{ Date table sorting \| May 25, 1986 }} \|Hands Across America \|United States \|5,000,000 \|Charitable event to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.
{{ Date table sorting \| August 23, 1989 }} \|Baltic Way \|Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania \|2,000,000 \|Called for the end of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries, and for the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
{{ Date table sorting \| January 21, 1990 }} \|Reunion Day \|Lviv–Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine) \|450,000 (according to Soviet militsiya); 3,000,000 (according to organizers){{Cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7JfYDP698E\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901141133/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7JfYDP698E\| archive-date=2010-09-01 \| url-status=dead\|title=- YouTube\|via=YouTube}} \|Marking the 71st anniversary of the Act Zluky, an agreement unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic.
{{ Date table sorting \| August 1997 }} \|XII World Youth Day, 1997 \|Paris, France \|400,000 \|A 36 km ring surrounding Paris facing outwards, symbolically calling for peace.
{{ Date table sorting \| 16 May 1998 }} \|Jubilee 2000 Human Chain \|Birmingham, UK \|70,000 – 100,000 \|The first Chain demonstration by Jubilee 2000, a coalition of church and faith groups, overseas development agencies and others at the G8 Summit in Birmingham, UK, to highlight the indebted poverty of many poor countries and the need for the G8, World Bank and IMF to act to remit that debt. The Chain surrounded Birmingham city center including the International Convention Center.
{{ Date table sorting \| September 8, 1999 }} \|Protest against violence in East Timor \|Lisbon \|300,000+ \|A 20 km ring connecting the United Nations delegation and the embassies of Russia, China, UK, France and the US in Lisbon, calling for the end of violence in East Timor.{{cite web\|url=http://www1.an.com.br/1999/set/09/0mun.htm\|title=Mundo\|work=an.com.br\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301191537/http://www1.an.com.br/1999/set/09/0mun.htm\|archive-date=2008-03-01}}
{{Date table sorting \| February 28, 2004 }} \|228 Hand-in-Hand Rally \|Taiwan \|1,000,000+ ( 2,000,000+ according to organizers) \|Commemoration of the February 28 Incident and protest of People's Republic of China missiles aimed at Taiwan.
{{Date table sorting \| July 25, 2004 }} \|Israeli Chain \|Gush Katif (Jewish communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip, Israel), to the Western Wall, Jerusalem (90 kilometers) \|130,000 (according to police) \|Opposing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Disengagement Plan which involves dismantling of Jewish communities and settlements of Gush Katif.
{{ Date table sorting \| December 11, 2004 }} \|'No Confidence' campaign to the BNP-led alliance government \|Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh \|5,000,000+ and \|The participants were supporters of 14 opposition parties led by the Bangladesh Awami League to express their 'No Confidence' campaign to the BNP-led alliance government and to demand fresh polls.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-human-chain-(length)\|title=Longest human chain (length)\|website=Guinness World Records\|access-date=2019-06-28}} It was 1,050 km (652.4 miles) long.
{{ Date table sorting \| May 1, 2006 }} \|Great American Boycott \|New York City. (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn Bronx) \|12,000 (according to CNN ){{cite news\|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/01/immigrant.day/index.html \|title=Thousands march for immigrant rights – May 1, 2006 \|publisher=CNN \|access-date=2010-09-01}} \|Protesting H.R. 4437, a bill in Congress to toughen immigration checks.
{{ Date table sorting \| February 25, 2008 }} \|Gaza Chain \|Gaza \|20,000 {{Cite web\|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3511002,00.html\|title=Israeli anarchists commend Gaza rally against blockade\|website=Ynetnews\|access-date=2019-06-28}} \|Protesting Israeli blockade of Gaza
{{ Date table sorting \| September 1, 2008 }} \|"Stop Russia" campaign[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e5a1c3aa-7885-11dd-acc3-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1 Protesters wave the flag in 'Stop Russia' campaign]. Financial Times. 2008-09-01. \|Georgia \|1,000,000 (according to the Georgian authorities)[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24280333-23109,00.html Georgians stage mass protest] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914190820/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C24280333-23109%2C00.html \|date=2008-09-14 }}. news.com.au. September 02, 2008. \|Protesting Russian military intervention
{{ Date table sorting \| October 24, 2008 }} \|2009 Tamil protests in India[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27271 Rain highlights depth of emotions in Tamil Nadu]. Tamil Net. 2008-10-24. \|Chennai, India \|100,000 – 150,000 \|Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
{{ Date table sorting \| December 13, 2008 }} \|"Mumbai citizens form human chain to protest attacks"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022141126/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-12/mumbai/27916933_1_terror-attacks-protest-attacks-mahim-causeway Mumbai citizens form human chain to protest attacks]. The Times of India. 2008-12-13. \|Mumbai, India \|60,000 \|Protesting Against the terror attacks that took place in Mumbai on the 26th of November 2008
{{ Date table sorting \| January 28, 2009 }} \|2009 Tamil protests in Canada{{cite news\|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/578360 \|title=They are killing innocent people \|work=Toronto Star \|date=2009-01-28 \|access-date=2010-09-01 \| location=Toronto \| first1=Raveena \| last1=Aulakh}} \|Toronto, Canada \|20,000 \|Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
{{ Date table sorting \| June 9, 2009 }} \|Green Chain, Iran's Presidential Election 2009 Iranian Election Protests \|Tehran, Iran \|18,000 – 30,000 \|In support of Mir-Hossein Mousavi{{cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-iji4VTQQ \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/PP-iji4VTQQ\| archive-date=2021-12-12 \|url-status=live\|title=20 Km Human Chain in Tehran-June 8th \|date=9 June 2009 \|via=YouTube \|access-date=2010-09-01}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090608_bd_ir88_green_chain.shtml \|title=BBC فارسی – ايران – زنجیره انسانی ۲۵ کیلومتری حامیان موسوی در تهران \|date=8 June 2009 \|publisher=BBC \|access-date=2010-09-01}}
{{Date table sorting \| October 2, 2009 }} \|Kerala CPM, 2009 ASEAN agreement Protest \|Kerala, India \|200,000 \|Protesting against the ASEAN and New Delhi free trade agreement
{{Date table sorting \| February 3, 2010 }} \|Telangana JAC, Telangana Human Chain \|Andhra Pradesh, India \| \|The people of Telangana formed a 500 kilometers-long human chain all along the National Highway number 7 from Adilabad on the northernmost tip of the region to Alampur on the borders of Kurnool district, to press their demand for forming a separate state.{{cite web\|url=http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/feb/03/slide-show-1-andhra-crisis-longest-human-chain-formed-for-telangana.htm \|title=Pix: 'Longest human chain' formed for Telangana: Rediff.com News \|publisher=Rediff.com \|date=2010-02-03 \|access-date=2010-09-01}}{{Cite web\|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-andhra-crisis-longest-human-chain-formed-for-telangana/20100203.htm\|title='Longest human chain' formed for Telangana\|date=February 2010\|website=rediff news}}
{{ Date table sorting \| December 10, 2012 }} \|Human Chain for Human Rights. \|Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India \|20,000 \|25 km long Human chain formed for Human Rights on Human Rights Day on December 10, 2012 by 20,000 tribal students of Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India .{{cite web \|url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/297582/25-km-human-chain-formed.html \|title= 25 km Human chain formed\|date= 10 December 2012}}{{cite web \|publisher = Yahoo! News India \|url= http://in.news.yahoo.com/video/human-chain-human-rights-111000283.html \|title= Human Chain Human Rights }}
{{ Date table sorting \| September 11, 2013 }} \|Catalan Way Towards Independence \|Throughout Catalonia \|1,600,000{{cite news\|title=1.600.000 persones, com a mínim\|url=http://www.324.cat/noticia/2170774/catalunya/1600000-persones-com-a-minim\|date=11 September 2013\|agency=324.cat\|language=ca}} \|480 km long Human chain organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana for the independence of Catalonia.{{cite web\|title=El recorregut de la cadena humana de l'Onze de Setembre ja és públic\|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4126953/20130619/recorregut-cadena-humana-lonze-setembre-public.html\|publisher=Vilaweb\|access-date=1 July 2013\|language=ca}}
{{ Date table sorting \| November 29, 2013 }} \|Pro-European Union protests / Against Russian intervention \|Various, largest from Ukraine to Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Also Lithuania – Latvia. \|2,000,000+[http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/20081107/ukraine-opposition-demands-leader-resign-after-eu-snub/ Ukraine opposition demands leader resign after EU snub], Seven News (30 November 2013){{cite web\|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/61859/a-human-chain-in-vilnius-showed-support-of-ukraine-201461859/\|title=A human chain in Vilnius showed support of Ukraine\|work=The Lithuania Tribune\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313054052/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/61859/a-human-chain-in-vilnius-showed-support-of-ukraine-201461859/\|archive-date=2014-03-13}} \|Symbolic "linking" of Ukraine to the European Union
{{ Date table sorting \| June 8, 2014 }} \|Human Chain For The Right to Decide of the Basque Country \|Throughout Basque Country,{{cite web\|url=http://www.euskalkultura.com/news/the-201cgure-esku-dago201d-initiative-comes-to-the-diaspora-and-invites-everyone-to-participate-in-a-human-chain-on-june-8th?language_sync=1\|title=Euskal kultura }} from Durango to Iruñea-Pamplona \|150,000+ \|123 km long Human chain organized by Gure Esku Dago for the Self-determination of the Basque Country.
{{ Date table sorting \| October 1, 2015 }} \|Madhesh Human Chain{{Cite web\|url=http://www.madhesiyouth.com/news/join-madhesh-human-chain-1st-october-1-pm/\|title=JOIN MADHESH HUMAN CHAIN – 1ST OCTOBER, 1 PM @ HULAKI RAJMARG\|date=2015-10-01\|website=Madhesi Youth\|access-date=2019-06-28}} \|Mechi to Mahakali, Hulaki Rajmarg, Nepal. \|1,500,000+ \|The 2015 Human Chain for Madhesh Movement was an organised protest in Nepal for pressurizing the government of Nepal to withdraw the discriminatory policies being institutionalized in the constitution that came in effect on 20 September 2015. The Madheshis the residents and indigenous population of Madhesh, the southern plains of Nepal, created world record in creating 1155 km of human chain to draw attention of Nepal government.{{Cite web\|title = My Republica – UDMF says it formed world's longest human chain to protest constitution\|url = http://www.myrepublica.com/society/story/29087/morcha-led-human-chain-along-postal-highway.html\|access-date = 2015-10-04\|last = REPUBLICA\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151012070242/http://www.myrepublica.com/society/story/29087/morcha-led-human-chain-along-postal-highway.html\|archive-date = 2015-10-12\|url-status = dead}}
{{ Date table sorting \| December 29, 2016 }} \|Kerala LDF, 2016 Indian Bank Note Demonetization Protest \|Kerala, India \|1,000,000+ (according to estimates made by the organizers) \|Protesting against the demonetization of ₹500 (US$7.40) and ₹1,000 (US$15) banknotes{{cite web\|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ldfs-human-chain-protest-against-demonetisation-in-kerala/articleshow/56240895.cms\|title=LDF's 'Human Chain' protest against demonetisation in Kerala\|agency=Press Trust of India\|date=2016-12-29\|work=The Economic Times\|access-date=2016-12-29}}
{{ Date table sorting \| 21 January 2017 }} \|Support for Total prohibition \|Bihar, India \|20,000,000 \|The participants expressed support to implement and promote complete Prohibition of liquor and intoxicants in the territory of the State of Bihar and in favour of the law to be passed by Nitish Kumar Government by forming human chain of around 12,760 km across the state of Bihar.{{Cite web\|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-forms-worlds-largest-human-chain-against-alcoholism-and-liquor/\|title=Bihar forms world's largest human chain against alcoholism and liquor\|date=2017-01-21\|website=The Indian Express\|access-date=2019-06-28}}{{Cite web\|url=http://excise.bih.nic.in/Acts/Bihar-Prohibition-and-Excise-Act-2016.pdf\|title=Bihar prohibition and excise Act 2016\|access-date=2019-12-28}} It was of the length of 11,292 km (7,017 mi).
{{ Date table sorting \| June 10, 2018 }} \|Human chain for Basque self-determination 2018 \|Basque Autonomous Community, Spain \|175,000 \|Advocacy for a right of the Basques to decide their political status.
{{ Date table sorting \| 1 January 2019 }} \|Vanitha Mathil (Women's wall) \|Kerala, India \|3,000,000 –5,000,000 (women) \|The women's wall was formed for a distance of around 620 kilometers from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram to uphold gender equality and protest against gender discrimination. .
{{ Date table sorting \| August 23, 2019 }} \|Hong Kong Way \|Hong Kong \|210,000 \|Advocacy for withdrawal of the extradition bill and for democratic elections. The chain was nearly 50 km (30 mi) and stretched through Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. It was held on the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way Chain of Freedom, a peaceful gathering that called for independence from Soviet Union.
{{ Date table sorting \| October 27, 2019 }} \|2019–20 Lebanese protests{{cite news \|title=Lebanon protesters form human chain across the country \|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/lebanon-protesters-form-human-chain-country-191027113442407.html \|access-date=28 October 2019 \|publisher=Al Jazeera \|date=27 October 2019}}{{cite news \|last1=Elassar \|first1=Alaa \|title=Protesters in Lebanon formed a human chain across the entire country \|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/middleeast/lebanon-human-chain-trnd/index.html \|access-date=28 October 2019 \|publisher=CNN \|date=27 October 2019}} \|Lebanon coastline \|170,000 \|Symbolize the unity of the Lebanese protesters against austerity, political corruption and sectarianism. It ran from Tripoli to Tyre.
{{ Date table sorting \| January 26, 2020 }} \|Manushya Maha Sringhala{{cite news \|title=620-km human chain formed in Kerala demanding withdrawal of CAA \|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/620-km-human-chain-formed-in-kerala-demanding-withdrawal-of-caa-1640338-2020-01-26 \|work=[India Today] \| date=26 January 2020}}{{cite news \|title=Kerala protesters form human chain across the state \|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/01/26/kerala-ldf-to-form-620-km-human-chain-against-caa.html \|work=[Manorama] \| date=26 January 2020}}{{cite news \|title=7 million join Kerala human chain to protest against citizenship act \|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/7-million-join-kerala-human-chain-to-protest-against-citizenship-act-1.69276480 \|work=[India Today] \| date=26 January 2020}} \|Kerala state \|6,000,000 – 7,500,000 \|A 700 km long human chain was formed on Republic Day, across the state of Kerala in India. The chain was organized by the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Left Democratic Front. The chain was formed to swear an oath to protect the Constitution of India and to demand the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act and non-implementation of the National Register of Citizens.

class="wikitable sortable"

Date

! Event

! Location

! Number of participants

! Purpose

|Embrace the Base

|RAF Greenham Common Newbury, Berkshire, England

|30,000 (women)

|Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.

|{{convert|14|mi|km|adj=on}} human chain

|Greenham to Aldermaston and the ordnance factory at Burghfield

|70,000 (40,000 – 80,000)

|Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.

|Hands Across America

|United States

|5,000,000

|Charitable event to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.

|Baltic Way

|Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania

|2,000,000

|Called for the end of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries, and for the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

|Reunion Day

|Lviv–Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine)

|450,000 (according to Soviet militsiya); 3,000,000 (according to organizers){{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7JfYDP698E| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901141133/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7JfYDP698E| archive-date=2010-09-01 | url-status=dead|title=- YouTube|via=YouTube}}

|Marking the 71st anniversary of the Act Zluky, an agreement unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic.

|XII World Youth Day, 1997

|Paris, France

|400,000

|A 36 km ring surrounding Paris facing outwards, symbolically calling for peace.

|Jubilee 2000 Human Chain

|Birmingham, UK

|70,000 – 100,000

|The first Chain demonstration by Jubilee 2000, a coalition of church and faith groups, overseas development agencies and others at the G8 Summit in Birmingham, UK, to highlight the indebted poverty of many poor countries and the need for the G8, World Bank and IMF to act to remit that debt. The Chain surrounded Birmingham city center including the International Convention Center.

|Protest against violence in East Timor

|Lisbon

|300,000+

|A 20 km ring connecting the United Nations delegation and the embassies of Russia, China, UK, France and the US in Lisbon, calling for the end of violence in East Timor.{{cite web|url=http://www1.an.com.br/1999/set/09/0mun.htm|title=Mundo|work=an.com.br|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301191537/http://www1.an.com.br/1999/set/09/0mun.htm|archive-date=2008-03-01}}

|228 Hand-in-Hand Rally

|Taiwan

|1,000,000+ ( 2,000,000+ according to organizers)

|Commemoration of the February 28 Incident and protest of People's Republic of China missiles aimed at Taiwan.

|Israeli Chain

|Gush Katif (Jewish communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip, Israel), to the Western Wall, Jerusalem (90 kilometers)

|130,000 (according to police)

|Opposing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Disengagement Plan which involves dismantling of Jewish communities and settlements of Gush Katif.

|'No Confidence' campaign to the BNP-led alliance government

|Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh

|5,000,000+ and

|The participants were supporters of 14 opposition parties led by the Bangladesh Awami League to express their 'No Confidence' campaign to the BNP-led alliance government and to demand fresh polls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-human-chain-(length)|title=Longest human chain (length)|website=Guinness World Records|access-date=2019-06-28}} It was 1,050 km (652.4 miles) long.

|Great American Boycott

|New York City. (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn Bronx)

|12,000 (according to CNN ){{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/01/immigrant.day/index.html |title=Thousands march for immigrant rights – May 1, 2006 |publisher=CNN |access-date=2010-09-01}}

|Protesting H.R. 4437, a bill in Congress to toughen immigration checks.

|Gaza Chain

|Gaza

|20,000 {{Cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3511002,00.html|title=Israeli anarchists commend Gaza rally against blockade|website=Ynetnews|access-date=2019-06-28}}

|Protesting Israeli blockade of Gaza

|"Stop Russia" campaign[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e5a1c3aa-7885-11dd-acc3-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1 Protesters wave the flag in 'Stop Russia' campaign]. Financial Times. 2008-09-01.

|Georgia

|1,000,000 (according to the Georgian authorities)[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24280333-23109,00.html Georgians stage mass protest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914190820/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C24280333-23109%2C00.html |date=2008-09-14 }}. news.com.au. September 02, 2008.

|Protesting Russian military intervention

|2009 Tamil protests in India[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27271 Rain highlights depth of emotions in Tamil Nadu]. Tamil Net. 2008-10-24.

|Chennai, India

|100,000 – 150,000

|Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.

|"Mumbai citizens form human chain to protest attacks"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121022141126/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-12/mumbai/27916933_1_terror-attacks-protest-attacks-mahim-causeway Mumbai citizens form human chain to protest attacks]. The Times of India. 2008-12-13.

|Mumbai, India

|60,000

|Protesting Against the terror attacks that took place in Mumbai on the 26th of November 2008

|2009 Tamil protests in Canada{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/578360 |title=They are killing innocent people |work=Toronto Star |date=2009-01-28 |access-date=2010-09-01 | location=Toronto | first1=Raveena | last1=Aulakh}}

|Toronto, Canada

|20,000

|Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.

|Green Chain, Iran's Presidential Election
2009 Iranian Election Protests

|Tehran, Iran

|18,000 – 30,000

|In support of Mir-Hossein Mousavi{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-iji4VTQQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/PP-iji4VTQQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=20 Km Human Chain in Tehran-June 8th |date=9 June 2009 |via=YouTube |access-date=2010-09-01}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090608_bd_ir88_green_chain.shtml |title=BBC فارسی – ايران – زنجیره انسانی ۲۵ کیلومتری حامیان موسوی در تهران |date=8 June 2009 |publisher=BBC |access-date=2010-09-01}}

|Kerala CPM,
2009 ASEAN agreement Protest

|Kerala, India

|200,000

|Protesting against the ASEAN and New Delhi free trade agreement

|Telangana JAC,
Telangana Human Chain

|Andhra Pradesh, India

|The people of Telangana formed a 500 kilometers-long human chain all along the National Highway number 7 from Adilabad on the northernmost tip of the region to Alampur on the borders of Kurnool district, to press their demand for forming a separate state.{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/feb/03/slide-show-1-andhra-crisis-longest-human-chain-formed-for-telangana.htm |title=Pix: 'Longest human chain' formed for Telangana: Rediff.com News |publisher=Rediff.com |date=2010-02-03 |access-date=2010-09-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-andhra-crisis-longest-human-chain-formed-for-telangana/20100203.htm|title='Longest human chain' formed for Telangana|date=February 2010|website=rediff news}}

|Human Chain for Human Rights.

|Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

|20,000

|25 km long Human chain formed for Human Rights on Human Rights Day on December 10, 2012 by 20,000 tribal students of Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India .{{cite web |url = http://www.deccanherald.com/content/297582/25-km-human-chain-formed.html |title= 25 km Human chain formed|date= 10 December 2012}}{{cite web |publisher = Yahoo! News India |url= http://in.news.yahoo.com/video/human-chain-human-rights-111000283.html |title= Human Chain Human Rights }}

|Catalan Way Towards Independence

|Throughout Catalonia

|1,600,000{{cite news|title=1.600.000 persones, com a mínim|url=http://www.324.cat/noticia/2170774/catalunya/1600000-persones-com-a-minim|date=11 September 2013|agency=324.cat|language=ca}}

|480 km long Human chain organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana for the independence of Catalonia.{{cite web|title=El recorregut de la cadena humana de l'Onze de Setembre ja és públic|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4126953/20130619/recorregut-cadena-humana-lonze-setembre-public.html|publisher=Vilaweb|access-date=1 July 2013|language=ca}}

|Pro-European Union protests / Against Russian intervention

|Various, largest from Ukraine to Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Also Lithuania – Latvia.

|2,000,000+[http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/20081107/ukraine-opposition-demands-leader-resign-after-eu-snub/ Ukraine opposition demands leader resign after EU snub], Seven News (30 November 2013){{cite web|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/61859/a-human-chain-in-vilnius-showed-support-of-ukraine-201461859/|title=A human chain in Vilnius showed support of Ukraine|work=The Lithuania Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313054052/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/61859/a-human-chain-in-vilnius-showed-support-of-ukraine-201461859/|archive-date=2014-03-13}}

|Symbolic "linking" of Ukraine to the European Union

|Human Chain For The Right to Decide of the Basque Country

|Throughout Basque Country,{{cite web|url=http://www.euskalkultura.com/news/the-201cgure-esku-dago201d-initiative-comes-to-the-diaspora-and-invites-everyone-to-participate-in-a-human-chain-on-june-8th?language_sync=1|title=Euskal kultura }} from Durango to Iruñea-Pamplona

|150,000+

|123 km long Human chain organized by Gure Esku Dago for the Self-determination of the Basque Country.

|Madhesh Human Chain{{Cite web|url=http://www.madhesiyouth.com/news/join-madhesh-human-chain-1st-october-1-pm/|title=JOIN MADHESH HUMAN CHAIN – 1ST OCTOBER, 1 PM @ HULAKI RAJMARG|date=2015-10-01|website=Madhesi Youth|access-date=2019-06-28}}

|Mechi to Mahakali, Hulaki Rajmarg, Nepal.

|1,500,000+

|The 2015 Human Chain for Madhesh Movement was an organised protest in Nepal for pressurizing the government of Nepal to withdraw the discriminatory policies being institutionalized in the constitution that came in effect on 20 September 2015. The Madheshis the residents and indigenous population of Madhesh, the southern plains of Nepal, created world record in creating 1155 km of human chain to draw attention of Nepal government.{{Cite web|title = My Republica – UDMF says it formed world's longest human chain to protest constitution|url = http://www.myrepublica.com/society/story/29087/morcha-led-human-chain-along-postal-highway.html|access-date = 2015-10-04|last = REPUBLICA|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151012070242/http://www.myrepublica.com/society/story/29087/morcha-led-human-chain-along-postal-highway.html|archive-date = 2015-10-12|url-status = dead}}

|Kerala LDF,
2016 Indian Bank Note Demonetization Protest

|Kerala, India

|1,000,000+ (according to estimates made by the organizers)

|Protesting against the demonetization of ₹500 (US$7.40) and ₹1,000 (US$15) banknotes{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ldfs-human-chain-protest-against-demonetisation-in-kerala/articleshow/56240895.cms|title=LDF's 'Human Chain' protest against demonetisation in Kerala|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2016-12-29|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2016-12-29}}

|Support for Total prohibition

|Bihar, India

|20,000,000

|The participants expressed support to implement and promote complete Prohibition of liquor and intoxicants in the territory of the State of Bihar and in favour of the law to be passed by Nitish Kumar Government by forming human chain of around 12,760 km across the state of Bihar.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-forms-worlds-largest-human-chain-against-alcoholism-and-liquor/|title=Bihar forms world's largest human chain against alcoholism and liquor|date=2017-01-21|website=The Indian Express|access-date=2019-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://excise.bih.nic.in/Acts/Bihar-Prohibition-and-Excise-Act-2016.pdf|title=Bihar prohibition and excise Act 2016|access-date=2019-12-28}} It was of the length of 11,292 km (7,017 mi).

|Human chain for Basque self-determination 2018

|Basque Autonomous Community, Spain

|175,000

|Advocacy for a right of the Basques to decide their political status.

|Vanitha Mathil (Women's wall)

|Kerala, India

|3,000,000 –5,000,000 (women)

|The women's wall was formed for a distance of around 620 kilometers from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram to uphold gender equality and protest against gender discrimination. .

|Hong Kong Way

|Hong Kong

|210,000

|Advocacy for withdrawal of the extradition bill and for democratic elections. The chain was nearly 50 km (30 mi) and stretched through Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. It was held on the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way Chain of Freedom, a peaceful gathering that called for independence from Soviet Union.

|2019–20 Lebanese protests{{cite news |title=Lebanon protesters form human chain across the country |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/lebanon-protesters-form-human-chain-country-191027113442407.html |access-date=28 October 2019 |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=27 October 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Elassar |first1=Alaa |title=Protesters in Lebanon formed a human chain across the entire country |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/middleeast/lebanon-human-chain-trnd/index.html |access-date=28 October 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=27 October 2019}}

|Lebanon coastline

|170,000

|Symbolize the unity of the Lebanese protesters against austerity, political corruption and sectarianism. It ran from Tripoli to Tyre.

|Manushya Maha Sringhala{{cite news |title=620-km human chain formed in Kerala demanding withdrawal of CAA |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/620-km-human-chain-formed-in-kerala-demanding-withdrawal-of-caa-1640338-2020-01-26 |work=[India Today] | date=26 January 2020}}{{cite news |title=Kerala protesters form human chain across the state |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/01/26/kerala-ldf-to-form-620-km-human-chain-against-caa.html |work=[Manorama] | date=26 January 2020}}{{cite news |title=7 million join Kerala human chain to protest against citizenship act |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/7-million-join-kerala-human-chain-to-protest-against-citizenship-act-1.69276480 |work=[India Today] | date=26 January 2020}}

|Kerala state

|6,000,000 – 7,500,000

|A 700 km long human chain was formed on Republic Day, across the state of Kerala in India. The chain was organized by the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Left Democratic Front. The chain was formed to swear an oath to protect the Constitution of India and to demand the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act and non-implementation of the National Register of Citizens.

human chain (politics)

List of notable human chains

References