February 14 Youth Coalition

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February 14 Youth Coalition — short, easy-to-understand version

What is it?
- A Bahraini youth group formed during Bahrain’s 2011 uprising. It organized protests and used the internet and social media to get people involved.

When and where did it form?
- It started around March 2011 in Bahrain, named after the date of the start of the uprising (February 14, 2011).

Who started it?
- It was led by anonymous activists who used online platforms to coordinate actions. The group grew from other youth groups and online communities.

Who was involved?
- Many members were students (high school or college). The members came from different religious backgrounds (Shia and Sunni) and did not belong to one single political party.

What did they want?
- They called for democracy, self-determination, and fair elections.
- At first they preferred reforms within a constitutional monarchy, but after a deadly police raid at Pearl Roundabout in February 2011, their goal shifted toward changing the government.

How did they operate?
- They organized protests mainly through the internet and social media.
- They published weekly protest schedules. Protests often happened in the evenings and included various peaceful activities.
- Big protests usually occurred on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays.

Key events and allies
- The Coalition worked closely with other youth groups, especially the February 14 Youth Movement, and supported each other’s protest plans.
- They connected with youth movements from other Arab countries and helped organize events like Manama Tsunami.
- In May–July 2011, they criticized Bahrain’s national dialogue as biased and not a real path to change. They viewed it as a government tool to ease pressure.

Elections and politics
- They supported a boycott of the parliamentary by-elections held in September 2011 by opposition groups.

What happened after the uprising?
- Some reports say the group became more militant or paramilitary after the uprising and connected with other armed groups; this is a contested claim and not agreed by everyone.

Why is this movement notable?
- It shows how young people in Bahrain used the internet and social media to organize protests and push for democratic reforms during the 2011 uprising.