The coup sparked peaceful protests from all generations, ethnicities, backgrounds, and geographic locations. Public servants and students led a civil disobedience movement and a nationwide strike to call for the release of Myanmar’s democratically elected leaders and an end to authoritarian rule.

The military responded with violent and deadly crackdowns, late night raids, detained journalists and activists, and restricted media and internet access. Amidst a devastating third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the anti-resistance grew and a shadow government was formed.