Issue and Opponent: In 1975, the Kingdom of Morocco invaded the Western Sahara. The territory was expected to gain independence from Spain when King Hassan II initiated the attack. There was ongoing violence between the Moroccan forces and the nationalist Sahrawi group Polisario Front until a ceasefire in 1991. To maintain the territory, Morocco moved 20,000 settlers into the region. This led to protests for independence throughout the major Western Saharan cities. The first large-scale protests, known as the first intifada, began in 1999 after the death of King Hassan II created an opening in the political space.
Dilemma Action: In September 1999, dozens of students organized a sit-in for more scholarships and transportation subsidies for Moroccan universities. They set up tent cities in Zemla Square and occupied the space for twelve days. Once the student protests started, former Sahrawi political prisoners, phosphate miners, and members of the militant Moroccan Union of Unemployed University Graduates joined the movement. They strategically avoided overtly political slogans, limiting their demands to social and economic reforms. The goal of the sit-in was to figure out how quickly Moroccan security forces, and with what level of force, they would respond. It was preparation for larger demonstrations in the future.
Outcomes: After twelve days, the Moroccan security forces broke up the camp. They beat and tear-gassed the protestors, arresting some and reportedly dumping others in the desert outside of town. This encouraged a larger, overtly political demonstration five days later. Moroccan citizens were encouraged to join this movement, which showed Moroccan and Sahrawi solidarity. The international media attention led to the removal of the governor and the local chief of police.