The strike was called for by the activist group Gen Z and the Civil Disobedience Movement, urging people to come together for a "spring revolution” on the “Five Twos,” a reference to the digits in Monday’s date, 22/2/2021, and a nod to the 8888 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar on August 8, 1988.
In Pictures: Nationwide General Strike against Military Coup in Myanmar
![Protesters take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 22, 2021.](https://gdb.voanews.com/7b927da2-510d-4bf7-8288-da4b665b17cf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Protesters take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 22, 2021.
![Anti-coup protesters hold a banner which reads: "Save Myanmar" as they march in Mandalay, Feb. 22, 2021.](https://gdb.voanews.com/8f36afa4-ede1-44ea-acbf-92b3b1c52c66_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Anti-coup protesters hold a banner which reads: "Save Myanmar" as they march in Mandalay, Feb. 22, 2021.
![Anti-coup protesters hold up posters with images of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally near the Mandalay Railway Station in Mandalay, Feb. 22, 2021.](https://gdb.voanews.com/5276b90a-bec5-49a7-b7a2-f93b789bac6e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Anti-coup protesters hold up posters with images of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally near the Mandalay Railway Station in Mandalay, Feb. 22, 2021.
![Police advance with heavy construction equipment towards protesters demonstrating against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb.22, 2021.](https://gdb.voanews.com/429ef297-6bf2-4033-b118-b1f1fa4e5089_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Police advance with heavy construction equipment towards protesters demonstrating against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb.22, 2021.