New memorial plaque in Žižkov campus will commemorate Jan Palach

The unveiling of a memorial plaque takes place at the University of Economics, Prague, next Wednesday. The memorial plaque placed on the Stará budova (SB, Old Building) will commemorate former student of VŠE, Jan Palach. His self-immolation is a symbol of protest against the general passivity and repression of freedom not only in the Czech and Slovak Republic but in the world. Besides the unveiling of the memorial plaque, an atrium in the Žižkov campus will be given his name.

The rector, Prof. Hana Machková, will attend the event as well as the chancellor Andrej Tóth, representatives of universities, academic institutions and Jan Palach’s friends.

Jan Palach (11 August 1948 – 19 January 1969) was a Czech student of the University of Economics, Prague and Charles University in Prague. His self-immolation was a political protest against the end of the Prague Spring resulting from the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies.