It started Sunday night as thousands of Lebanese gathered for a candlelight vigil in “Martyr’s Square” in Beirut.

The held their candles to form the word “Truth”, signifying their demand that the truth behind the brutal assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri be investigated and reported.

On Monday the protest grew:

Organizers and local police estimate that over a million people already pack the square. Most press reports cite “over 800,000″. (Go to Beirut & Lebanon in a Nutshell for a fantastic panoramic photo and a series of 30-second videos taken throughout the day. Hat tip to American Digest.)

Whatever the true number, it is undeniable that there is a sea of people demanding the truth and the right of self-determination:

The turnout was broader than earlier opposition protests, with more Sunni Muslims in particular joining the Christians and Druse who have formed the bulk of past anti-Syrian rallies. Even some Shiites joined in.

“We came to liberate our country. We are coming to demand the truth,” said Fatma Trad, 40, a Sunni woman wearing a headscarf. “I’ve been watching it all on television for the past month. Today, I wanted to be a part of it.” …

Cars and buses carrying protesters jammed the main roads into Beirut, forcing some people to leave their vehicles and walk. Druse descended from the Chouf and Aley mountains east and southeast of the capital, Christians came from the heartland in the northeast and many Sunni Muslims came from Tripoli, Dinniyeh and Akkar. Others traveled to Beirut from Hariri’s southern hometown, Sidon.

Unlike the pro-Syrian demonstration orchestrated by Hezbollah, this is far from a male-dominated movement:

Indeed, the mix of demonstrators was readily apparent in the mix of dress codes, from veiled women to horsemen in traditional Arab headscarves to women with bare midriffs and pierced belly buttons. A few of the banners cemented the theme of unity by displaying both a cross and a crescent.

One can’t avoid noticing the diversity of the protestors (I fully expect to see a “Babes of Protests” blog soon):

[Update: Sure enought, there is a new blog called Lebanese Chicks For Freedom. HT to Say Uncle.]

Some of the messages are amusing:

But there is nothing ambiguous about their demands:

More people live in Baghdad than in all of Lebanon. In all the months of insurgency, the terrorists were never able to put together a demonstration of any significant numbers. Instead, Iraqi citizens across the troubled country turned out in astonishing numbers to vote for freedom.

Today it is the citizens of Lebanon are turning out in astonishing numbers for freedom: nearly a million people in a country with a population of less than 4 million. One in four is packed into one place, speaking with one voice.

The vaunted Arab street is speaking loud and clear. And it cries for one thing:

Roundup Update:

Publius Pundit has an extensive post that covers the run-up to today as well as the “human tsunami” in Beirut with lots of links.

Wizbang fears civil war but later features the protest babe in red pictured above.

Little Green Footballs features the same girl.

Say Anything uses his uncanny female targeting system to locate this photo from the protest.

Terrorism Unveiled compares the protest to the Boston Tea Party and quotes Condi.

Roger L. Simon finds that Turkey’s Zamon Online estimates the number of demonstrators to be “nearly two million” and the Lebanon Daily Star is reporting some violence (amazingly low, given the number of people packed into Beirut and the contentious topic of the day).

From Captain’s Quarters:

Now, however, it looks like the democrats have more strength than ever, so much so that the Lebanese collaborationists have asked both sides to stop holding street demonstrations and use Parliament to make their demands known. They may have miscalculated by putting Karami back in charge. It tipped their hand, showing their loyalty to Damascus over Beirut, and the protestors in the streets tell them that without Damascus, their days in power are numbered.

From BuzzMachine:

The scene in Lebanon today is miraculous. I’m watching it on Alhurra right now. I don’t understand the words. Don’t have to. The camera is filled with Lebanese celebrating a free future.

Lebanese Bloggers shouts (hat tip to BuzzMachine):

OH MY GOD!!!

I AM IN DISBELIEF!

THE ENTIRE LEBANESE POPULATION IS IN BEIRUT!!!!

ROADS INTO THE CITY ARE STILL CLOGED WITH TRAFFIC…

SOME HAVE DECIDED TO USE BOATS INSTEAD OF THEIR CARS…

I HEARD THAT THERE IS A CONVOY OF 70 BOATS THAT LAUNCHED FROM BYBLOS…

THE MEDITERANEAN IS MIRRORED BY A SEA OF RED WHITE AND GREEN!!!

I AM SO PROUD!!!

HEY… PLANET EARTH: DO YOU SEE???? DO YOU SEE???

Update 2: Concerning the civil war comment previously posted by Wizbang, Lebanese Blogger posts this comment:

However, your fear of a civil war is not founded. The reason is that the dividing lines are not purely sectarian in nature. Hizballah is the only major political party that is standing against the entire Lebanese community – which includes both Christians and Muslims.

I forsee Hizballah caving to the overwhelming pressure. It cannot but do so. Furthermore, there is broad agreement among all political players that war is simply not an option. You might have a few scattered incidents here and there, but full-scale war is simply not going to happen.

Power Line says that today’s demonstration is important:

Does it matter? Sure. The Syria-Hizbollah-terrorist alliance got a major shot in the arm from Hizbollah’s demonstrations. A bloodless revolution is possible, but only if it’s supported by a clear majority of the populace, who are willing to show that they are no longer afraid to say what they think for fear of being shot. That’s the practical definition, I think, of the proverbial “tipping point.” Today’s show of strength went a long way, I hope, toward showing the Syrians and their Lebanese allies that the tide of history is moving inexorably against them.

Update 3: Ace of Spades posts the protest babe in red and says:

I’ve got to say I’m finally becoming more comfortable with having given women the vote.

Unsurprisingly, Protein Wisdom finds some humor in the situation.

Finally, Chrenkoff has his usual must-read, insightful post.

Finally (and I really do plan on stopping now), Right Wing Nut House provides links (including all those I put in this “Update 3″ post) and notes:

Far from being intimidated by the massive outpouring that Baby Assad and his Hizballah toadies managed to force into into the streets a few days ago (reports say that perhaps as many as half of the 500,000 demonstrators were actually bussed in from the Syrian border) the pro-democracy demonstrators seem to have been energized by it.

Update 4: It seems the ‘sphere is paying more attention to the protest babes than I thought.

Wizbang actually digs up a “babe theory” of political movements. Impressive. [Hat tip to Say Uncle.]

Speaking of Say Uncle, read this rather humorous post.

Best Roundup Award goes to Terrorism Unveiled for quoting 19 Lebanese bloggers.