[2] Leaders of the previous secret organization Harakat Tahrir called for a demonstration to read out a petition of goals in response against the Spanish occupation of Western Sahara.

On 17 June 1970, this petition was read to the Spanish governor-general of the colony, General José María Pérez de Lema y Tejero, peacefully.

[3] After the demonstration was being dispersed by orders from Spain's governor-general, police moved in to arrest the Harakat Tahrir's leaders.

[3] The suppression of the Zemla demonstration pushed the Spanish Saharan anti-colonial movement into embracing armed struggle.

The militant nationalist organization Polisario Front was formed three years later.