On 19 December, local Party functionary Radu Bălan and Colonel-General Ștefan Gușă visited workers in the city's factories, but failed to get them to resume work. On 20 December, massive columns of workers entered the city. About 100,000 protesters occupied Piața Operei (Opera Square – today Piața Victoriei, Victory Square) and chanted anti-government slogans: ""Noi suntem poporul!"" ("We are the people!"), ""Armata e cu noi!"" ("The army is on our side!"), ""Nu vă fie frică, Ceaușescu pică!"" ("Have no fear, Ceaușescu is falling!")