Protesters in Syria are marching to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the nation’s ongoing popular uprising today, as the forces of President Bashar al-Assad continue a violent crackdown. The demonstrations come one day after government forces gunned down at least eight people, including a child, while executing widespread raids throughout northwestern areas. Backed by dozens of tanks and hundreds of soldiers firing machine guns at random, the Syrian military raided at least 10 towns near the border with Turkey, arresting scores of people. The United Nations estimates at least 2,600 Syrians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the ongoing unrest.