Human chain (politics)


A human chain is a form of demonstration in which people link their arms 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 43 million people across to support his government's efforts towards environment conservation and eradication of social evils.

List of notable human chains

DateEventLocationNumber of participantsPurpose
December 1982Embrace the BaseRAF Greenham Common Newbury, Berkshire, England30,000 Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.
1 April 1983 human chainGreenham to Aldermaston and the ordnance factory at Burghfield70,000 Protested siting of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.
May 25, 1986Hands Across AmericaAcross United States5,000,000Charitable event to raise money to fight hunger.
August 23, 1989Baltic WayEstonia; Latvia; Lithuania2,000,000Called for regaining independence for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the Soviet Union. Was followed by a similar chain on August 23, 1991, with people holding candles.
January 21, 1990Reunion DayLviv–Kiev, Ukrainian SSR 450,000 ; 3,000,000 Marking the 71st anniversary of the Act Zluky, an agreement unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic.
August 1997XII World Youth Day, 1997Paris, France400,000A 36 km ring surrounding Paris facing outwards, symbolically calling for peace.
16 May 1998Jubilee 2000 Human ChainBirmingham, UK70,000 – 100,000The 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.
September 8, 1999Protest against violence in East TimorLisbon300,000+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.
2000Latin American Jubilee 2000Germany50,000Called for debt forgiveness for developing nations.
February 28, 2004228 Hand-in-Hand RallyTaiwan: from Keelung to Eluanbi 1,000,000+ Commemoration of the February 28 Incident and protest of People's Republic of China missiles aimed at Taiwan.
July 25, 2004Israeli ChainGush Katif, to the Western Wall, Jerusalem 130,000 ; 200,000 Opposing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Disengagement Plan which involves dismantling of Jewish communities and settlements of Gush Katif.
December 11, 2004'No Confidence' campaign to the BNP-led alliance governmentTeknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh5,000,000+ andThe 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. It was 1,050 km long.
May 1, 2006Great American BoycottNew York City. 12,000 Protesting H.R. 4437, a bill in Congress to toughen immigration checks.
February 25, 2008Gaza ChainGaza20,000Protesting Israeli blockade of Gaza
September 1, 2008"Stop Russia" campaignGeorgia1,000,000 Protesting Russian military intervention
October 24, 20082009 Tamil protests in IndiaChennai, India100,000 – 150,000Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
December 13, 2008"Mumbai citizens form human chain to protest attacks"Mumbai, India60,000Protesting Against the terror attacks that took place in Mumbai on the 26th of November 2008
January 28, 20092009 Tamil protests in CanadaToronto, Canada20,000Protesting the violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
June 9, 2009Green Chain, Iran's Presidential Election
2009 Iranian Election Protests		Tehran, Iran18,000 – 30,000In support of Mir-Hossein Mousavi
July 2009The Dolomites Embrace AfricaTre Cime di Lavaredo – Auronzo di Cadore – Dolomites – Italy6,000To ask the G8 leaders to take care of Africa and drop the debt of the poor countries It was 6 km long.
October 2, 2009Kerala CPM,
2009 ASEAN agreement Protest		Kerala, India3,000,000 – 4,000,000+ Protesting against the ASEAN and New Delhi free trade agreement
February 3, 2010Telangana JAC,
Telangana Human Chain		Andhra Pradesh, India50,000The 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.
December 10, 2012Human Chain for Human Rights.Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India20,00025 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 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
September 11, 2013Catalan Way Towards IndependenceThroughout Catalonia1,600,000480 km long Human chain organized by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana for the independence of Catalonia.
November 29, 2013Pro-European Union protests / Against Russian interventionVarious, largest from Ukraine to Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Also Lithuania – Latvia.2,000,000+Symbolic "linking" of Ukraine to the European Union
June 8, 2014Human Chain For The Right to Decide of the Basque CountryThroughout Basque Country, from Durango to Iruñea-Pamplona150,000+123 km long Human chain organized by Gure Esku Dago for the Self-determination of the Basque Country.
September 2015The Dolomites Embrace Human RightsTre Cime di Lavaredo – Auronzo di Cadore – Dolomites – Italy6,000To celebrate Human Rights and the 40th Anniversary of Amnesty International Italian section It was 6 km long.
October 1, 2015Madhesh Human ChainMechi 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.
17 January 2016Human chain to move 1400 sandbagsSingaporeDefending their loved ones. Organised by 8xx BN
December 29, 2016Kerala LDF,
2016 Indian Bank Note Demonetization Protest		Kerala, India1,000,000+ Protesting against the demonetization of ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes
21 January 2017Support for Total prohibitionBihar, India20,000,000The 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. It was of the length of 11,292 km.
June 10, 2018Human chain for Basque self-determination 2018Basque Autonomous Community, Spain175,000Advocacy for a right of the Basques to decide their political status.
1 January 2019Vanitha Mathil Kerala, India3,000,000 –5,000,000 The women's wall was formed for a distance of around 620 kilometers from Kasargod to Thiruvanathapuram to uphold gender equality and protest against gender discrimination..
August 23, 2019Hong Kong WayHong Kong210,000Advocacy for withdrawal of the extradition bill and for democratic elections. The chain was nearly 50 km 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 Russia.
October 27, 20192019–20 Lebanese protestsLebanon coastline170,000Symbolize the unity of the Lebanese protesters against austerity, political corruption and sectarianism. It ran from Tripoli to Tyre.
January 26, 2020Manushya Maha SringhalaKerala state6,000,000 – 7,500,000A 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 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.