Tens of Thousands Protest in Egypt Against Tyranny

Egyptian cries for freedom reverberated around the world

Tens of thousands protest in the streets of Cairo, Egypt. Photo: AFP

(SALEM, Ore.) - This was a historical day for Egypt. Officially a national holiday, "Police Day" was redubbed Egypt's "Day of Revolution", celebrated with the first anti-government protests of this magnitude in decades.

Partially inspired by Tunisia's uprising, thousands showed their strength by marching against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, facing down police and enduring predictable clashes.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Anwar Sadat's assassination in 1981, and the start of Mubarak's rule- a 30-year-long 'emergency martial law'.

The protesters are asking for basic human rights, jobs, cheaper food; political and economic reforms so Egyptians can freely elect their true representatives, and the ouster of President Mubarak.

They chanted, "Leave! Leave!" and "Go, Leave Egypt Mubarak!" walking the streets of the capital city. Many carried signs supporting Tunisia.

Police answered the protesters with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, batons and dogs used to attempt to disperse the crowds.

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented on the situation earlier, asking all people to "exercise restraint" and said the U.S. supported "the fundamental right of expression.” Then she said, “but our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people."

There have been three reported deaths, one is said to be an anti-riot police officer killed in Central Cairo, and two protesters were killed in a demonstration in Suez. At least 100 protesters were injured in Cairo alone. Large protests also took place in Alexandria and industrial Nile Delta towns.

Aljazeera reported, "Police (are) attacking the Tahrir Square sit-in. they are firing very intense tear gas to try to break the protest." And, moments later, Sky News said, "more than 50 cannons of tear gas just fired now on Tahrir protesters."

Tahrir means Liberation. Today it lived up to its name.

In Cairo, police matched the protesters nearly one for one, mobilizing 20,000 to 30,000 police downtown, while masses of protesters took to the streets and assembled outside the Supreme Court, the Bar Association, Cairo University and the Moustafa Mahmoud Square in Giza.

There were reports of police using batons to beat protesters in at least two Cairo locations, and many have been arrested. There is still no estimate of the number of people detained.

Protesters returned fire by throwing rocks at the well-armored police for several hours in Cairo's Tahrir Square, firmly keeping their place against the police forces trying to move them out.

Khalid Mohamed Said before his death

"Many protesters are fainting from the amount of teargas used (more than 60 cannons so far) and police is attacking everyone and randomly arresting people in side roads" said one Twitter feed.

Another said, "Police are using criminal thugs again. They have now brought in to Tahrir square gangs of thugs & convicts in plain cloths to attack protesters in Tahrir square. They are carrying knives and machets."

Gamal Mubarak, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's son, widely expected to be his successor, was said to have fled to London with his family Tuesday afternoon, complete with 97 pieces of luggage, from a western Cairo airport.

This is a message to protesters that they are making a difference, they are being heard.

Much of the protest planning began online, with thousands joining facebook groups and agreeing to attend the marches.

‎"I will go to the streets on the 25th of January because this country is my country and I vow an oath that I am ready and willing to die for its sake," wrote Mohamed M on a Facebook group that called for protests, and has 87,000 supporters.

A lot of people are also protesting in the name of Khaled Said (Saaed), a 28-year-old Egyptian from the coastal city of Alexandria, Egypt, who was tortured to death at the hands of two police officers last June in front of many witnesses.

According to Associated Press, Khaled was killed “after he posted a video on the Internet of officers sharing the spoils from a drug bust among themselves”.

His death was a turning point for a large number of everyday Egyptian citizens who were already terribly frustrated with the same deplorable level of poverty and oppression Tunisia has experienced.

Free Press, honest reporting and a lively online community is not a combination to keep the down-trodden down, which was clear by the massive online participation by Egyptians desperate to improve their lives- and turn out to these events in droves. They found strength in numbers, and a revived belief in their potential to right wrongs.

Presumably perplexed with the impact of the Internet's far-reaching influence, Egypt halted Twitter feeds in and out of the country late Tuesday, also disabling facebook in some areas. Still the online world did not abandon Egypt, and the global community worked to keep information lines open via cell phones or third parties. Nothing was going to keep the digital-empowered movement from it's quest.

Wednesday, the marches and rallies are expected to continue. The protesters are a force to be reckoned with, and regardless of the short-term outcome, they are dramatically changing the direction of their country. They are officially setting the bar of acceptable behavior higher, and the Egyptian government may have to take their standards seriously.

The eyes of the world are upon them.

Watch Videos of the Protests BELOW:

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Publisher Bonnie King has been with Salem-News.com since August '04. Bonnie has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and NIE/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER). Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers.

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