To mark the 35th anniversary of the 8888 uprising that challenged the General Ne Win-led one-party dictatorship, revolutionary youths in Yangon held a protest on 7 August in the morning.

The 8888 uprising was a significant turning point in Myanmar's history. It began as a student-led protest against the oppressive military regime but it quickly gained widespread support from all sectors of society. The protests were met with a violent crackdown by the military junta, resulting in numerous casualties and human rights violations on 8 August 1988.

On 8 August 2023 it is the 35th anniversary of the 8888 uprising.

The protest was held in downtown Yangon where security was tight, with demonstrators hanging a banner saying "We must fight till the end".

“We are still young and we must fight to complete the unfinished business of older generations. Young generation and older generation must work together to bring the dictatorship to an end as soon as possible,” a youth who participated in the protest said.

The protest was organized in collaboration with the revolutionary youth from Kyimyindaing Networks (KMD18) and the Mayangone Democratic Front (MDF).

Normally, significant historical events such as the 8888 uprising are commemorated through a variety of activities such as memorial ceremonies, public gatherings, discussions, exhibitions and cultural events. However, after the 2021 coup, many people organized protests and fundraising events for IDPs who have been displaced due to the junta’s human rights violations and arson attacks.

The total death toll of the 1988 uprising is unclear but between 3,000 and 10,000 pro-democracy activists were killed.