On May 8th, 2018, a young man proudly waves the Armenian flag from a passing vehicle as the city of Glendale, California, home to the largest community of Armenian people in the United States, celebrates the "Velvet Revolution."
The Velvet Revolution, also known as the Armenian Revolution of 2018, was a series of peaceful protests and civil disobedience that occurred in Armenia from April to May 2018. The protests were sparked by the decision of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia to nominate former President Serzh Sargsyan as the country's next Prime Minister, despite a constitutional amendment that had transferred executive power from the President to the Prime Minister. The protests were led by Nikol Pashinyan, a member of the opposition Yelk Alliance, who called for mass civil disobedience and a peaceful transition of power. After several weeks of protests, Sargsyan resigned as Prime Minister on April 23, and Pashinyan was elected as the country's new Prime Minister on May 8, 2018. The revolution was widely seen as a major victory for democracy and civil rights in Armenia.