Though estimates vary, it’s believed at least 100,000 red shirt supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra hit the streets of Bangkok on Sunday, many coming in from all over the country Friday and Saturday to march down Sukhumvit and other main Bangkok thoroughfares to join the protest marches and rallies.
The atmosphere was upbeat and almost festival-like with the events even proving to be a tourist attraction for some Bangkok visitors who are using Twitter to share their own personal pictures and accounts of the protests and marches.
The marches continued Monday, with protesters demanding the government dissolve the House by noon -- a demand that was not met. As of Monday afternoon, the red shirts vowed to keep the pressure on by holding more rallies and marches.
Here are a few pictures of the weekend red shirt gatherings.
Let the flood of red begin. On Friday afternoon, supporters of Thaksin began to mass in their trademark red shirts.
Some enthusiastic red shirts made their way into the city by tuk tuk, including this bunch near Victory Monument.
Many of Thaksin's supporters waved clappers and flags, giving the march a parade-like feel.
In Chiang Mai on Friday, Thai supporters of Thaksin cheered as fellow residents left Thaksin's home city in a convoy of vehicles to join the rallies in Bangkok. Police said 14,000 red shirts left Chiang Mai, though the red shirts themselves say it was more like 20,000.
Thai soldiers and police in Ayutthaya province check out a convoy of red shirts as they head to Bangkok for the mass anti-government rally on Saturday.
Double whammy: This happy red shirted lady shows her support for the cause with not just a red heart clapper, but a national flag too.
Bad hair day? A wigged supporter of deposed Thai premier Thaksin gathers with others for the anti-government rallies in Bangkok on Saturday.
A Buddhist monk joins the red shirts at the site of a mass rally in central Bangkok on Sunday.
Red-shirted supporters of Thaksin gather for a mass rally at Royal Plaza on Sunday.
Thai soldiers patrol as the red shirts make their way to the main rally sites.
Don't have an official red shirt with Thaksin's face on it? No problem. Some protestors opted to show their support for the ousted PM while at the same time showing Liverpool FC some love.
Many red shirts gathered at Bangkok's Democracy Monument.
Some red shirts decided to bring their kids to the protests too, lending to the weekend's festival-like atmosphere.
On Sunday night, Thaksin appeared live by video link to thank his supporters for their efforts.
Despite the heat, many protesters donned Thaksin Shinawatra masks in honor of the former Thai leader.
Anti-government protesters say they will pressure the government until they achieve their demand of a dissolution of the House and a fresh election.
Thousands of supporters of Thaksin gathered to hear him speak live on Sunday night.
Keeping their promise to hold non-violent protests, most red shirts who gathered in Bangkok on the weekend were reportedly in high spirits, as this photo shows.
Many red shirts held up posters, some bearing images of Thaksin, others harshly criticizing the Thai goverment.
These fiesty ladies get into the spirit of things as thousands of red shirts gather on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Sunday.
