Mgr. Monika Brázdová

“I met my schoolmates from gymnasium, five, six or seven of us at a time. They arrived from Prague and came from different faculties and different universities. Our school had five or six representatives so we said what’s new and who will say what and what has to be said to the people what had to be done. So we took turns speaking and told people what is happening in Prague, Prague’s message to Humpolec, an update about the state of things in České Budějovice, and a message from České Budějovice to Humpolec about the developing situation. The people in Humpolec were surprised. They knew something was happening in Prague, but there was very little available information at that time. Unless you listened to Radio Free Europe or Radio Luxembourg and other stations it was difficult to get information. People had to tell one to another. So when we came and told them, they were eating it up; all those ovations and applause. It was odd being eighteen or nineteen and talking to adults and telling them what to do. They looked at you like the Virgin Mary a said: These kids came over here to tell us what to do and that we have to wake up.’ And they got up and did it. They were happy that someone came over to tell them what to do and they did it with great fervor. The atmosphere was very interesting.”

“When I returned to Humpolec, I had some papers with me and I said to myself: ‘What am going to do with these?’ and I found out – I believe it was in Staněk’s store – that there is an assembly planned at the statue of (President) Masaryk by the Sokol sports hall. I went home and told my parents: ‘There is an assembly.’ They said: ‘We know and we are going. And you?’ So I answered: ‘Of course I am going.’ ‘You better not say anything (at the assembly). Listen to what is going on but do not say anything.’ So we found our way there and it wasn’t long and I stood up.”