( CNN ) -- Like many other Yemenis , I was overwhelmed by the news of the Life March which was set off from Freedom Square in Taiz late December 2011 . Thousands of youths walked for almost five days , covering more than 250 kilometers by foot . The youth used the term Life March to denote a continuation of their revolutionary protest and a rejection of the immunity given to President Ali Abdullah Saleh . They wanted the whole international community to notice that what is happening in Yemen is in fact a revolution , not just a political crisis . In this spirit , they wanted the world to seriously consider their demands to topple Saleh 's regime completely and start building the civil and democratic country they all aspire to have . When the youth started their march , they knew that it might involve many risks and dangers that may have threatened their lives . It was not unrealistic that thugs and snipers loyal to Saleh could inflict heavy casualties on the marchers . However , the marchers slowly shed these concerns as they climbed the mountainous roads along the cities of Ibb and Dhamar on their way to Sana ' a . Their march surprisingly grew in size as youth from cities joined in . However , they were received at the entrance of the capital of Sana ' a and some of its streets with a fierce attack by Saleh 's loyalists and thugs . Early reports stated that at least 13 protesters died and dozens more were injured as troops opened fire on the Gandhi-style mass peaceful protest . That was the way Saleh and his associates decided to show their hospitality to the exhausted and fatigued marchers . Yet the revolutionary youth of Change Square in Sana ' a rushed to defend them against Saleh 's forces and to lead them to the square which was set as their final destination . That was where they gave them a warm welcome and later celebrated them as heroes of the nation . As the marchers overcame the risks and troubles they faced , the march 's meaning evolved and came to represent a new turn in the course of Yemen 's revolution . From one perspective , the march revealed the true depth to which the Arab youth have contributed to the success of the revolutionary protests . What surprised the world the most about the Arab Spring was not the unpredictability of events , but the level of civility utilized to achieve success . The Life March is just one example of the youth 's determination to shape the arc of Yemen 's future without guns , violence or bloodshed . Yemen is experiencing two revolutions , says female activist . Despite the bravery shown by the marchers , and their commitment to non-violence , the media has largely remained silent on the first march from one city to another . The media simply circumvented the march by tabbing it is a `` peaceful rally '' falling drastically short of what it really was . It is difficult to understand why the event did not receive the coverage it deserved . The march broke the typical cliches of Yemen as a country of bombs and terrorists and , if covered , could have shown the whole world that Yemen is an army of liberation -- demonstrating hope for all those who seek freedom but lack the means to achieve it . The march was a symbol for the historical new trajectory of the Arab world . The area is witnessing a birth of a new generation that has broken the shackles of oppression and submission . By realizing the universal rights of a life of dignity and freedom of choice , this new generation is eager to shape its future and build a country of its own volition . The autocracy of oppression that has permeated the Arab world will never find its way into the history of the Arabs as long as youth exist . How Arab youth found their voice . Youth have sacrificed their lives for the success of the revolution , and now should not be the time to undermine them and the role they will play in shaping Yemen 's future . Youth have always been at the heart of the uprisings : they were the first out on the streets to demonstrate , the least likely to be intimidated , most likely to raise their voice against authorities . They have received enough criticism . It is now time to join them in their marches and celebrate them as the heroes our country needs . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Murad Alazzany .
one of young people took part in inspirational march over more than 250 kilometers in March . five days `` broke cliches of Sana as a country of bombs and terrorists , '' says Murad Alazzany . Youth have broken the shackles of oppression and submission , he adds .