Charter 77: Communist Czechoslovakia’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Revolution

Source: RadioFreeEurope / RadioLiberty / www.rferl.org /

Forty years ago this week, the first civic opposition movement in the Eastern Bloc was born, and a rock band was at its heart. After several musicians were arrested on dubious charges, a group of Czechoslovak dissidents drew up a petition — known as Charter 77 — urging the communist government to observe basic human rights. RFE/RL spoke to Vratislav Brabenec, one of the document’s signatories and the saxophonist in the band that started it all. (Produced by Coilin O’Connor and Margot Buff. Camera: Jaroslav Ptacnik)