Issue and Opponent: In 2012, a violent police response was witnessed toward nonviolent protests in Bahrain.
Dilemma Action: Protestors started marching with flowers and presenting them to the riot police. They wanted to highlight the oppressive regime’s violence through increased nonviolence and the use of flowers, which often symbolize peace and remembrance. In this case, the dilemma is that if the authorities respond to these peaceful protestors by handing them flowers with violence, then they fulfill the narrative of being harsh and oppressive. However, if they do not respond, then they look weak because their actions are based on flowers.
Outcome: This action created an image that the international media used to report on the unjust violent crackdowns in Bahrain. Thus, the symbolism of the flowers changed the narrative of King Hamad’s reign in favor of the peaceful protestors. After the violent backlash from the presentation of the flowers, protestors gathered in the Pearl Roundabout and initiated a nationwide strike.