what's up

I spent the weekend in Alexandria with friends. It was a good time as always - we saw more protests at the same train station that has been a focal point of previous protests. It was a planned day on Friday - it happened in Cairo as well. They are still protesting the emergency law, the curfew, and the Constitutional reforms they are demanding from the military. Time will tell how this will all work out - however the Egyptian people are emboldened with a sense of free speech and a sense of deserving that they have not had before.

We are still waiting for English classes that I teach at to start back up. I coordinate the teachers for the Lamb Center - A Coptic nonprofit center in the Church of St. Barbara that teaches English to Coptic college students. Until the curfew and security are truly improved, the director doesn't want to hold classes just yet.

All my heart and hopes go out to the peoples of Algeria, Bahrain and Libya right now. My friend Najma is keeping me updated about the protests in her country (she's an AUC student) and it is heart wrenching. More people are dead in just 5 days there than all that died in 18 days of the Egyptian uprising. Gaddafi will stop at absolutely nothing to maintain his 4decade+ rule over those people. It's time he was taken out with the rest of the garbage that's been cleaned out of the Middle East lately. Bahrain has had loss of life as well. If this spreads to the gulf region - God help us all. I have my doubts that most of the Khaliji region will jump on board with Bahrain - Qatar, Saudi and Kuwait are the least likely candidates for any revolt. The Shi'a in Saudi may be unhappy but they are so rural and such a minority that I doubt it will lead to anything significant - in fact I doubt it would become anything at all let alone significant.

I want to visit one of those countries. I can't imagine how it must be there. Libya has had their communications cut just like Egypt did to us. That is a BAD sign. That is when the fan gets hit with some you know what. Because there is no international anybody to condemn acts which they cannot see. However I was proven wrong by Mubarak - 18 days was much less than I imagined it would take - so hopefully Libya gets the same. The problem with the authoritarian regimes is they only know how to respond with fear and death. Once the people have broken their fear of death by openly marching in defiance of the government - than those senseless killing don't serve to strike fear in the hearts of the people anymore - they strike ire and rage into their hearts. That is what will oust a regime. The rage of the people you have walked on and destroyed slowly for so long. The only death they fear anymore is the death that is a life without freedom. They will openly face death to change their circumstance and to gain the freedom that has eluded them so long.

Final Friday

Wow! I was so excited and exhausted and busy this weekend that I forgot to Blog! lol
I did a couple more interviews with ABC 25 and Fox 7 = you can find them both linked on my facebook profile.
And the pics from the protests (all days I went) is the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58474&id=1677137434&l=daf5eb5db8

So I went to Tahrir again on Wednesday night (I think I blogged about this already) and then on Friday dubbed by the protesters as "Final Friday" 2/11/11 my roommate Hassan and I went to the protests in Tahrir. We weren't sure what to expect and in honesty were a bit worried about potential violence. The protesters were ANGRY after the message that was delivered on Thursday night. But we went anyways. This was his first time attending any of the protests or visiting Tahrir since 1/25/11.

We went and it was altogether peaceful although pretty packed. We stayed a couple of hours - but it didn't seem like anything was happening. We had expected a march to the Presidential palace but could see no signs of that happening. So we left, got into a cab and on the way back we noticed big groups of people marching. We asked our cab driver and he said these were the marches to the palace. We looked at each other - got out of the taxi and joined....

At first Hassan (being Egyptian) wasn't sure how I would be treated. I got asked more than a few times if I was Israeli...so he asked me to cover up as much as possible. So I pulled on my Egyptian sock hat I had just bought in Tahrir. Put my kuffeya (scarf) on around my neck and mouth (I brought it becuase it was the Egyptian colors and for a potential tear gas mask just in case - cause we knew not what to expect). But after being greeted more than a few times by Egyptian anyways with the common slogans of "welcome to Egypt" and having my and shaken when they found out I was American -any fear of the protesters Hassan had quickly faded and I was able to remove them.

We marched a few miles to the palace and then arrived to a blockade of tanks and barbed wire in the street about a block away keeping us at a distance. On the way Hassan stopped me on the side of the road and looked me in the face and said "I'm ready to die today for my country. Are you ready to die today for my country?" I knew he was serious - one can never tell what Mubarak has in store for us. But I quickly responded - "The eyes of the world are all on Egypt today - he wouldn't dare be so stupid." After all we had seen every camera crew from Britian to Venezuela out there that day. But even I wasn't sure I was convinced by my own statement. But we marched on into the unknown.

After arriving about 20 minutes later it was the sunset prayer time. So all the protesters grabbed whatever they could - newspapers, flags, their own coats - laid them on the ground and began to pray. After prayer the crowd started to get restless. And so did we. He looked at me and said - we have 2 hours to get home before curfew. After all those disobeying curfew in the streets generally slept in the streets to avoid any trouble. And neither of us had come prepared for that. I told him to stay a little longer. We were only about an hour cab ride from home. And about 20 minutes later - the man came on the megaphone and announced that Mubarak has resigned. The crowd went nuts - dancing, cheering, screaming. It was the most electric feeling I had ever had and I wasn't even Egyptian.

We marched back to Tahrir square for the celebration. It was an amazing night that I will never forget.

However the protesters haven't left Tahrir yet. They are demanding Constitutional reforms from the military....we shall see when this will end....

Until then....

short and sweet

Mubarak has opened his hand and with his open palm - slapped all Egyptians across their face in a 30-minute absolutely narcissistic and insane message to the people which shows not only how big his ego is - but how small his ears are.
He has NOT heard the people and feels like he can stay in power openly defying them as long as he wants. I really really, truly believe that the people will kill him with their own bare hands unless he flees the country first.

I have never seen such a complete and total showing of angry solidarity from the people. Tomorrow will be the new turning point in this popular revolution. Each Friday has seen a new turn and twist and tomorrow will assuredly be no different. Keep watching Al Jazeera English live.....and see the events unfold before your very eyes! I will be watching tomorrow with my roommate from Tahrir Square hopefully. We are still working out plans now - but should be there tomorrow.

Thanks
Randy

it's not over....

Well I went to Tahrir Square last night with friends to check it out and there were thousands of people...honestly...it felt like a state fair. There were side stages with people on mics talking and there was a "main stage" where the leaders and famous Egyptians come to express their views and solidarity. There were mobile clinics all around the square (these days they're just taking care of old injuries, maybe a scrape or fall, and dehydration for some.
The actual circle in the middle with grass is the tent area where they sleep. And people sleep in front of and under the tanks all day and all night every day. They want to make sure the tanks don't move for two reasons - it will allow the police and thugs into the square to terrorize them and it might allow the tanks further in to the square to box them in. The attitude towards the military is one of mixed emotions as you can tell.
However the mood in Tahrir is nothing but somber and joyous. The people are somber and mourning the losses of those martyrs who have already lost their lives in this struggle- their pictures hang everywhere with candles ever burning under them. And the joyous is the fact that at least in Tahrir - they have already won. I heard one Egyptian I talked to say - "I am so happy to be hear - it's the only real free place in Egypt."
This is the place where no view or idea can be silenced and the people run the street without any interference. There are vendors selling flags and Egyptian flag sweat and wrist bands. There are food vendors selling tea and coffee and water and snacks and corn and sweet potatoes and koshary -you name it.

There is a level of organization - i'm sorry to say it Egyptian friends - but like I never thought I would see in Egypt. At all entrances to the square is a 3-line defense. You have to show ID and get patted down three different times and explain who you are and what you want and why you have come three times. Me and my other American friend were with 4 Egyptians and we almost didn't get in. We kept hearing the same excuse - they didn't want us to see an "ugly or sad" side of Egypt. I told them in Arabic- "I am Egyptian from my heart" at the second stop and he let me pass and guided me through the third stop without interference.

They were calling for 5 million in the streets again on Friday. Not just Tahrir again - but all over Cairo and Egypt. I am a little nervous about Friday actually. Because there is talk that the Saidis may be coming to Cairo from down south. These people are the tribe and bedouin people in the South and they have a reputation for being tall, big and tough as nails. The posts are spreading on Facebook and Twitter for Mubarak to hurry up and resign before the Saidis catch him - cause they won't let him go.
of
We are the ONLY University in Egypt that is planning on being open. Every other one including foreign schools and private schools like British University (BUC) and German University (GUC) etc are all postponed another week. I am beginning to wonder if we should be planning to roll ahead like they are - and if we will even be able to. It's like the University Administration is turning a blind eye to the events in our backyard. I know their focus is on running a University, etc - but you can't just march blindly into the future ignoring the present circumstances.

I ask everyone to do two things for me.
1) Amnesty International is planning on holding solidarity rallies in a bunch of cities on Saturday the 12th and asking all global citizens to wear red black and white on Saturday (the colors of the Egyptian flag) in solidarity with the people of Egypt in their struggle. So I ask first for everyone to wear those colors and show your support for their struggle for freedom.

and
2) Continue to keep Egypt, the Egyptian people and myself and my friends in your thoughts and prayers.....



Lastly - I promised an update on Wednesday night.... I know it's a bit late - but here it is:

I had an interview last night with the organizers of US Boat to Gaza. The boat - called "The Audacity of Hope" will be sailing in late April or early May in a coalition of 11 boats from other countries in order to show solidarity with Gaza and the ongoing blockade. It is a re-do of the flotilla you probably heard about last year happening which was led by a Turkish boat but was absent American citizens.
So I should find out in the next couple of weeks if I have been selected or not to be on the boat which will sail to Gaza to break the years-long illegal blockade of Gaza by Israel.

Monday (and a Wednesday blog teaser)...

So on Thursday morning we have a bus to take us back to the new campus....finally moving back home. I miss it. This place we're in is boring, smells, EVERYTHING you do echoes and is loud....and did I mention its boring!?

I think my friend Sheeraz and I are going to Tahrir in the morning/afternoon tomorrow. It has REALLY calmed down by all reports. The protesters there are not giving up even though the thought really sweeping the nation right now is that he has gotten the message, given concessions, and their voices have been heard and an immediate exodus by Mubarak may cause more problems then victories. However, those few dedicated souls are not giving in. And they are getting more organized by the day. And I mentioned that there was a makeshift clinic outside where like a dozen doctors had set up shop? Well apparently that has moved into a mosque and there were over 100 doctors today. And now there's a kitchen serving food and there's blankets and bedding and tents now to protect from the rain. They are ready to live there for eternity if that's what it takes.... at least the violence and scari-ness is over - but i'm not sure their will is broken just yet.

I finally woke up from my 36 hour nap yesterday. I was exhausted in a way I never have been before. Not just physically - but mentally and everything as well. The process and experience has just been a brow-beating....and I'm glad that a sense of normality has finally returned. I didn't watch the Super Bowl. After all - my team was nowhere to be found....Poor Colts...but next year we host - so that may be our year!

I have news to report on Wednesday. It's pretty big news - but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag prematurely. It involves the next big thing I'm getting myself into. Could be huge. Definitely something to keep on your blog radar. I won't let it out yet. But you definitely don't want to miss my blog Wednesday night around 9pm Egyptian time (so that's 2pm EST in the US)...... Don't worry - that's only a day and a half away.....lol

Sunday...cont'd

Well - it's been kind of an awful day. I think the boredom, frustration and being locked down in the dorms with the same people for 16 hours a day everyday has finally gotten to me a little. I woke up briefly at 3pm today and blogged and had dinner/lunch. Then went back to bed until 1am. It's 3am now and i'm still tired and will be going back to bed soon.... This has been an adventure and a mentally and emotionally draining experience.

In the latest showing of religious solidarity - Christians held mass in Tahrir today alongside Muslims who stood guard that their service was not interrupted. Pictures have surfaced of a priest and an Azhar Imam holding hands and being carried on men's back through Tahrir to show that Mubarak has failed in dividing the hearts of Egyptians regardless of religion.

The latest news from Egypt is that in the meetings that took place today - the VP has announced that they will have new term limits for the President, will stop arresting protesters and journalists and he openly apologized for the way the administration has handled this situation.

We have been inundated with emails today from administration officials. School is scheduled to start on the 13th. However graduate classes will resume at some later time. They are hoping for the following week - the 20th. This is because we are still under a curfew and all grad classes are night classes at AUC. The one bit of good news (well at least for me - but not for 95% of my rad classmates) is that all grad classes will be held at the New Cairo campus. There are two grad programs that house classes downtown - my two programs - Law and Refugee studies.

The old campus downtown sits on one of the 8 corners of Tahrir Square. The buildings have sustained damage from the rubber bullets and tear gas breaking windows. The day that looters were out and about everywhere (I think that was last Sunday but things have started to run together slightly) they damaged other buildings when they broke through the gates, looted laptops and damaged classrooms and the art gallery among other things. Not to mention Tahrir Square is damaged very badly. Tanks, bullets, rocks, fires and all have the left the roads and sidewalks nearly unusable and it will most likely take a while for the Square to return to normal and usability. I am one of the very few from my program who live on the new campus and so this is very convenient for me. Sounds a little selfish...but it's a bright spot for me in all of this. Sometimes you need a little bright spot.....

Sunday

Things have seemed the most normal so far today. Restaurants and cafes were open - people just filled the streets in droves - and the police were back at their little intersection posts directing traffic, ogling girls, and offering directions. If I didn't know any better I wouldn't know anything is going on in Cairo.

I've heard something troubling from many friends now about the western media's coverage of the Egyptian crisis and I just want to clear something up. THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH STARTING OR ORGANIZING THESE PROTESTS. The Muslim Brotherhood refused to take part in these protests for the first 4 days. They felt they had more to lose than gain by participating because Mubarak's government had cracked down on them so had last year. The Brotherhood didn't foresee this movement sustaining itself and growing so large and so didn't want to take any chances. They actually took heat from some Egyptians, because they are the biggest and most organized opposition movement in Egypt and other Egyptians were ecstatic at their non-participation because it allowed the event to really be a grassroots by-the-people movement that didn't owe its success or allegiance to any one group. However the Western media have INSISTED on making this story about them. SHAME ON THEM. Its all sensationalistic and is meant to spur on some "ooohs" and "aaaahs" from an American crowd to whom such a story sounds intriguing.

The people have organized themselves and they have fought hard to have their voices heard. The Muslim Brotherhood finally joined the protests after the Friday day of rage and since then have been in talks with President Mubarak for the last 2 days along with EVERY OTHER OPPOSITION LEADER AND OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY IN EGYPT to try to end the protests and come to an agreement that all parties can tolerate. So if your local news keeps shoving the MB line down your throat turn it off and move on - because you're not getting an accurate story of what's happening in Egypt.

Furthermore - for the record i want to clarify something about the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. They are NOT popular. Christians fear them because they have no tolerance for Christians in Egypt and would like to turn Egypt into a conservative religious state akin to Iran or Saudi. This is why the vast majority of Egyptian Muslims don't want them either. They threaten Egyptian freedoms more than Mubarak could have ever dreamed! EVERY woman will wear the veil, segregation will be rampant, women could lose most of their rights that have given them some semblance of gender equality, and discrimination will take on new meaning. Imagine Afghanistan under the Taliban rule for a moment - NO EGYPTIAN WANTS TO LIVE LIKE THIS. So tell your media to stop pushing this untruth through the story and show the real story of ordinary people united to gain their rights.

I'll get off my soapbox now and get some dinner....

Friday night

So......NO VIOLENCE TODAY!!! There were small clashes in side streets as the "pro-Mubarak" supporters tried to clash with the protesters. It is widely understood as fact now that these "supporters" are two groups - police and security personnel in plain clothes and poor Egyptians paid with money and food to support him. They number about 3,000 today in the streets, whereas the protesters are past a million today. So we know the real truth in Egypt.

I got goosebumps today when they announced the Coptic Christian priests and nuns had marched into Tahrir to join the protests. Onlookers said "...the spirit of 1919 is upon us." And actually I just got goosebumps again writing that... lol. The last time they were in the streets protesting were the protests of that year when they were fighting to be free of British rule.

This is TRULY uniting all Egyptians. They are sacrificing EVERYTHING to join these protests and DEMAND change and DEMAND their rights. I continue to be inspired daily by their courage and heart and the peaceful way the demonstrate. The only violence has been from the police masquerading as protesters and by the protesters responding to the tear gas and rubber bullets fired upon them. And for that - on them I can place no blame. The only buildings they damaged were the police stations (where the corrupt arrest the innocent) and the Mubarak NDP party headquarters (from which they corrupt and terrorize Egyptians). And for that I can place no blame on them either.

The Ayotollah of Iran (Khomenei) came out today speaking more insanity. He has tried to take the protests in Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt and say these are mere extensions of their 30 year old Islamic revolution. He is calling them Islamic revolutions - which NONE of them are - and he is taking credit for the "inspiration" behind them. What a crazy man. That's one more man that NEEDS TO GO. First NONE of these are about religion - they are about freedom, democracy and rights. Second - 30 years is a BIT too late to be the "inspiration" for anything.

Yesterday I gave an interview with Fox news in Evansville, IN (my hometown area) and today I am about to give an interview with Evansville ABC. I am able to share my experience and thoughts with my fellow Hoosiers. And for that I am grateful.

I cannot help but think. Just as I once set in a classroom and learned about the Birmingham events that helped facilitate a civil rights movement in the US. And later how the iron curtain fell in Eastern Europe and freedom blew through the region. This too will one day be in the history books of how freedom finally came to this region. And not only was I alive to experience it - but I have had the unique opportunity to EXPERIENCE it. That is of course in no way meant to make light of this situation. On the contrary - this is a somber set of events unfolding before me. But I am in the situation. IN Cairo, my friends and roommates are Egyptians - I walk the streets by day and night. I hear the guns and helicopters and taste the bitter tear gas in the air.... I am living in history being made before my very eyes. Long live Egypt. Mother Egypt. Mother of all Peoples.

Friday

So I talked to more of my friends today that decided to stay behind and wait...there's really a lot of the people in my program that have decided to stick it out here for a while. We went out for a bit today - slept really late today so we got up late in the afternoon.
The protests were well on their way by the time we all woke up and turned on the news. There were hundreds of thousands of people and estimates of over a million on the streets of Tahrir today but it was peaceful. It was not nearly as peaceful in parts of Alexandria according to the live footage we were seeing. There are updates flying around like crazy. Apparently Mubarak is meeting with different opposition members today and might agree to hand over all official power to the VP without stepping down is the new rumor? But I have to ask - what is the point? Is it just his pride? If he is stepping down in all official capacity - then just do it already and step down! What is this man's malfunction????
He just wants to leave on his terms only- this will NOT satisfy the protesters becasue they don't trust him! 30 years of broken promises and lies - what is to stop him from doing it again. The people are not dumb - and they haven't sacrificed so much already to be treated like they are by this man.
If the semester is delayed to a 6-week summer style semester to be ran at the end of the semester (as I kind of expect it will be) then I'll be coming home. I did an interview yesterday with Fox 7 in Evansville, IN yesterday and it should be on the news today. I have also been contacted by NPR so I might hear from them as well - however they have a lot people they've been talking to already - so who knows if they will.
For now - we are just waiting for news on the TV about what meetings are taking place and what may or may not be decided and what is going on in Tahrir and Alexandria. I don't know anything about Suez anymore because the news from there has basically stopped flowing in a real manageable and predictable way. Just some random tweets now and then....

Until later....

Thursday - 9:30pm

Well it's been an afternoon of interesting events. Many more students left the country today and many more came back! The EU has finally decided to speak on the matter, the US is still taking a strong line, violence and people in the streets are still minimal... which is comforting. But even as I sit in my room I constantly hear the military helicopters overhead.

I've been contacted my so many friends and family on facebook and by email and I really appreciate your support, prayers and thoughts. Rumors persist that prisons have been emptied. The local barricades in neighborhoods continue. And I just read an ABC news post about the number of journalists who have been beaten, kidnapped and otherwise roughed up. The number was staggering, but that is why we are staying put in the dorms except during the day- and even then we stay as far from the protests and zones of danger as we can.

The entire AUC management team, provosts council, board of trustees, etc etc are all meeting on Sunday. We expect answers then about the semester. One option that has been put forth is a possible 6 week summer-style semester to begin in the last 6 weeks of the normal semester time. If that is the decision taken, then khalas, i'll come home. But until then I don't want to fly home and fly back a week later - seems silly. So ensha'allah, i'll know more by Sunday. I will keep you updated as I know more.

The Vice President has now announced that Mubarak's son Gamal will NOT stand for election this year to replace his father. This is another attempt to pacify the protesters, but it obviously hasn't.

Thursday - 6:00 PM

Today was interesting so far. We see news reports that the level of violence has escalated in Tahrir- however the number of people there has significantly decreased. The remaining people are the hardcore people ready to die for change and the mass numbers are no longer on the streets. Everything really depends on tomorrow. As I mentioned before Friday prayers may be the best mobilizing tool that Egyptians have. Millions of Egyptians across Egypt go to the mosques around noon for Friday prayers. Last Friday this tactic proved to be useful as people left the mosques and joined the protests. They are calling for another such event tomorrow. We watch in anticipation.

Today a group of 18 of us went out today in Zamalek to Pottery Cafe to have lunch, smoke some sheesha and have a semblance of normality. We almost couldn't find tables because the place was so packed. People are trying to live in normality during the day and just exist. The violence and protests in Cairo are concentrated in 2 or 3 epicenters and the rest of the streets remain quiet. I have organized a poker tournament tonight in the dorms - shhhh! don't tell anyone because it's not allowed! :) But the guys and girls needs some release. The only danger we are in here is danger of boredom. Being locked up together gets boring after a while and we just try to watch some news - but I have to admit after a while it sounds repetitive, depressing and the same. We need breaks. I bought my first Egyptian flag today and have hung it in my room. Solidarity with the Egyptian people!
Long Live Msr!

Protests Continued

Wednesday night
2:15AM
Day 8 of the Protests

The University has announced that school will resume on the 13th. This is a bit premature in my opinion. This opinion is based on the fact that internet and mobile service has been restored and the "belief" that the streets will calm down enough to run bus service. I don't know how the University can believe anything that MIGHT happen in the next 10 days. This is based on their assumption that the people would be satisfied with Mubarak's address last night. This is the problem with an American administration of a University making predictions about the beliefs and desires of the Egyptian people.

Tonights riots have been bad - hundreds and hundreds are dead and even more are injured. The stones earlier today were flying so constantly and in such quantity back and forth that I could have sworn it was snowing in Tahrir Square. On the bus ride to the new dorms we saw more people than I have ever seen in one place at a time. I imagine the scene would be similar to the Exodus from Egypt in the Bible - except this was a march IN Egypt....

As day turned to night - the rocks turned to Molotov cocktails. More buildings on fire.... more injured. The TV images are scarring on the mind. Fire flying through the air in all directions - explosions, gunshots, chaos.

Chaos - i have a new understanding of the word. Protest will never ring the same in my ear again. Riot has a more contextual and tangible meaning to me now. I will never again take freedom for granted. I have seen hundreds die and thousands injured to gain a freedom that is within their reach - but each day seems just as far away as the one before. I'm not Egyptian - but as a Master's student in Human Rights Law - this touches me. It moves me. I'm proud of Egyptians.

Tonight after curfew was in place we decided to trek to the ATM. We passed so many of those home-made checkpoints I mentioned in an earlier blog. EVERY intersection had a version - some smaller than others and some more fully "Staffed" than others. Each involved mostly men with weapons but I saw my fair share of women and children armed to protect their streets and homes as well. We were only stopped at the biggest of them. We had to tell them who we were and why we were out and we had to show them our IDs before we could pass. They were perfectly nice to us - they were just not going to take any chances. We saw one fight (argument really) between a man on a motorcycle without ID and the neighborhood watch. They refused him passage and made it clear that they would use their weapons him if he did not comply. these weapons were 5 foot 2x2 boards with 6 inch knives taped to the ends. He argued, swore but finally complied and turned around.
Tonight we did a weapons count:
air rifles
single-barrel rifles
wooden sticks
PVC pipes
Metal pipes
Wooden sticks with knives taped and tied to the ends like spears
knives
machetes as long as my arm...i think they could more appropriately be called swords
leather whips (Indiana Jones style)
home made whips - ropes tied and nailed to sticks
pistols
nun-chuks
rocks
chair legs
broomstick handles

I have to ask myself and my fellow Americans. If they tried to take my freedom would I march into hails of rubber coated steel bullets and tear gas? Would I openly defy police and military to protest for my rights? If looters and thugs threatened my street and home - would I take any weapon I could find or make one if I couldn't find one and take to the streets at night ready to defend it? Would you?

Protest Blogs

Tuesday
January 25th, 2010
Police Force Day (Holiday)

10:00AM
A mass protest has been planned in Egypt for the last week to protest the Mubarak regime. It is a Tunisia-inspired protest to tell Mubarak to step down from his post as President of Egypt – a title he has held through many rigged elections for over 29 years. The movement has started among young people on Facebook. The Facebook event page dubbed the “Day of Rage against corruption, unemployment, XXXX, and XXXX has over 90,000 confirmations and growing and has over 20,000 maybes and another million yet to respond. We don’t know what to fully expect today. However they are calling for demonstrations in all cities around Egypt and specific areas of Cairo including Shoubra, Cairo University, the Street of the Islamic Universities and others with a planned march on Tahrir Square in the heart of downtown Cairo. The square translates to “Liberation Square” (Medan Tahrir) and was so named in commemoration of the emancipation from British colonial influence.

2:00PM
The protests have largely just started and I have American friends in attendance gathering in Dokki and Mohandasin and the news is reporting on large groups in Shoubra and other parts of Cairo as well as in other Egyptian cities such as Alexandria, Suez, and Ismailia. People are merely gathering and no “marches” per se have begun.

4:00PM
The marches are well on their way and police have been out in the cities and areas since the morning placing up road blocks. The protest marches are reaching road blocks now but things seem to be remaining peaceful and calm as protests shout, carry signs and chant. They have been stopping at regular prayer times (Muslims have 5 prayer times throughout the day and the protesters just stop, drop to their knees in the streets and pray.
8:00PM
The protesters have broken through nearly all roadblocks in Cairo and are assembling en masse in Tahrir Square. The protest organizers have a man on facebook at all times keeping everyone updated, Twitter has proven useful in gathering information in areas where camera and TV crews are not present and the protests have gained much momentum in other cities as well. A while back the police started gathering in Tahrir Square as well in what has been described as a tense but stable standoff. A few protesters have gotten into small altercations with police, but the reports are that mob mentality has not set in yet and that other protesters quickly shut down any protester tipping the scales of peace. It is a good day, a good showing and inspiring. However we have all been shocked that this has been allowed to continue by Mubarak hours and hours into the day because he is notorious for shutting down any dissent quickly.

1:00AM
My roommate Hassan is in Alexandria since Monday and has no access to the internet here. I have been keeping him updated constantly throughout the night and letting him know what has been going on with the internet reports as the TV reports are scarce and mostly just copy and past twitter reports as there are limited camera crews in parts of Tahrir. But all reports are that cameras are being confiscated quickly by police even as videos emerge steadily on YouTube and Facebook. Just hours ago the police have started releasing tear gas on protesters and firing rubber bullets into the crowd. The only death reported so far in Cairo is that of a policeman recently in Tahrir who was hit in the head with a rock thrown by a protester. We are receiving unconfirmed reports that two protesters have died in the port city of Suez in the north of Egypt. Many people have video streams appearing online from balconies overlooking Tahrir square and the sounds of semi-automatic and automatice gunfire ring into the night. Fires rage in Tahrir as police cars are being set on fire and police are grabbing and dragging away protesters to arrest them in droves. The people are dispersed momentarily by the hail of rubber bullets and tear gas but quickly push police back as they re-group the greatly outnumbered police force. The people say they will not give up Tahrir. Local restaurants are feeding the people and local residents are showering down blankets and warm clothing into the crowds. It is tense, dangerous and scary. Reports abound of police unleashing “thugs” on the crowds. Some say these are just street thugs paid by police, others claim these are released prisoners but all reports indicate their role is to infiltrate the protests, and create a violent atmosphere that can then be blamed on the protesters. The protesters are quickly identifying these men and violence between this is swift. This will not end soon. Police have set up heavy guard around the Mogaama – the monstrous government building in the square that houses the 20,000 employees of the Interior Ministry responsible among other things for running the police and security forces. The anger is pointed out this Ministry as the people are tired of violence against them by police and security and they are losing their fear to say so out loud. It has become apparent that the protests may continue and that they may be described as riots in the near future.





Wednesday
January 26th
2nd day of protests

1:00PM
I just woke up and have been checking the news. The protesters had dwindled overnight and had been pushed back in the morning. The protesters talk of wanting to re-take it. However the protests are much smaller today and in some cities are much much smaller. The only city with an increase in reported protests has been Suez. Suez are Egyptian working class and are tough people by all reports I have from Egyptians. There has been much violence In the city today and tear gas and rubber bullets have been reported all over the city since early hours. The crowds refuse to give in and it seems with every push from police – the people grow in number and push back harder. The police forces in all cities are outnumbered and battered with many reported injured.
Injured protesters showing up in hospitals for treatment have allegedly been arrested as suspected protesters. After all protests in Egypt are illegal in Egypt under the emergency law that was established when Mubarak came to power and has stretched for the entirety of his presidency. This is one of the many things the people are calling for. To be specific the protesters are calling for:
• Mubarak to end the emergency law in place that gives him and police nearly limitless power
• A complete sacking of the Parliament whose elections last year were fraught with fraud and illegitimacy
• Releasing of long-held political prisoners who have seen no charges and had no trial
• The sacking of the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister
• Mubarak to step down and for free and fair elections to take place in Egypt

5:00PM
Many less protesters on the streets but they have managed to re-take Tahrir Square. Facebook has been rumored to be shutting off soon and many people claim it already is – but I have had no problems with Facebook at this time. Facebook is the main organizing tool for protesters.
A new Facebook page was just recently posted calling for Friday to be the planned “follow-up” to Tuesday and termed once again he “Day of Rage”. Fridays are a significant day in Egypt and very smart day to hold a protest for many reasons. The main reason is that it is the first day of the weekend here so the vast majority of Egyptians including workers and students have the day off. The second reason is that Fridays are the day that Muslims go to pray at the mosques similar to a Sunday in a Christian country. The population is over 85% Muslim. Prayer times in all parts of the country happen at a set time for a set period of time so everyone will be leaving the many many mosques around Egypt simultaneously in groups. This should facilitate protests easily. There are doubts around campus as to whether or not Friday will happen or fizzle out. We expect that Mubarak would have shut these protests down with a heavy hand already. There has been no official word from the University and the University is operating as normal running trips around Egypt and Cairo for international students and new students against the avid protests of RAs (which I am now one of) who have implored the University to use restraint and better judgment to not take a bunch of white kids out into the middle of Cairo protests. We shall see.
9:30PM
Protests have remained all day as students stay glued to the TVs in the dorm common areas. No panic has yet set in – it is a testament to the frame of mind that most of us find ourselves in – surprised that protests have lasted and wondering when they will be shut down firmly and finally by the autocratic and power-hungry Mubarak regime. Tear gas and rubber bullets still continue to fly – however reports from Suez indicate live bullets may be being used and more people have died there today. Alexandria has seen its first deaths and Cairo has seen its first deaths of protesters today as well. However the protesters have failed to take Tahrir and have turned to Ramses station instead. I have just returned from Tahrir square and was utterly disappointed. I found a nice rooftop area of the AUC downtown campus to look into Tahrir –but as I mentioned the protesters never showed although I walked by rows of riot police. The police after all are just doing a job and following orders and I do not sense true animosity among them. I stopped into a small café and watched TV with about 7 police officers today and talked to them about the protests and what to expect. They seem optimistic about the smaller numbers and lack of protesters in Tahrir.
12:00 AM
Protests have mostly fizzled out under low numbers and heavy and brutal police tactics in all cities except Suez where the fighting and violence on both sides has been quickly increasing. The university had not trips planned for tonight – but trips are still planned for tomorrow night and against our continued protests – the University has announced that the trips will continue as normal as the administration fully expects the protests to fizzle out and die a natural death soon.






Thursday
January 27th
Day 3 of Protests

9:00AM
I have awoken early to man the Residence Life table to peddle more trips as Americans pour into the office to sign up for trips. Administration is firmly not budging on cancelling or postponing trips and events planned around Cairo. News is slow to come in this early as no protests have really started before the 2:00pm hour for the first two days.
3:00PM
The protests have restarted in all parts of Cairo including the hot spots of Alexandria and Suez as well as Cairo. Reports are that they have restarted in smaller numbers in Aswan, Ismailia, Asuit and Tanta as well. There is a trip leaving as 7:00pm tonight and I have made MANY angry calls to my bosses that the RA chaperones for this trip are boycotting the event and will NOT be leading students to them. We will see if these ploys fall on deaf ears or not.
7:00PM
The event was finally postponed at 6:00PM today and although Cairo is relatively quiet – Suez and Alexandria are becoming increasingly violent. Many more dead in Suez and Alexandria today and Suez is burning. They have set the police and fire stations on fire and tens dead on both sides. I know this number doesn’t sound inordinately large – but it is sad to see peaceful protests turning to bloodshed.
Due to my alleged trip I have been forced to stay put in the dorms – which honestly is probably the safest place for me.
1:00AM
Suez is still a central fighting and resistance point for protests today however Alexandria has increased its influence today seeing buildings set alight – multiple police vehicles torched and more dead. The prayers have continued as well. Protesters stop, kneel and pray. As a testament to the solidarity of the religion – when the protesters kneel to pray, Christians surround them to protect them and the police cease firing all weapons until the worshippers rise to their feet when all bets are off again and rocks, rubber bullets and tear gas begin to fly through the air again. I have been impressed at the unity these protests have promulgated and the respect for prayer that can be seen. Twitter went down this afternoon, Facebook followed around 7pm. The internet itself was completely turned off by midnight and text messages, BBM, phone messaging applications and mobile internet has gone down.

Friday
January 28th
Day of Rage 2 (fourth day of protests)

10:00AM
I just spoke with two of my friends on the phone and by 9:30 mobile phone service was completely turned off. The government is trying to make sure the protesters have ABSOLUTELY no way of communicating and organizing today. However prayer starts in the noon hour and as people gather in mosques- they will not need Facebook and mobile phones to organize. Suez will march towards downtown, Cairo towards Tahrir and Alexandria towards Saad Zaghloul Square. These have been the central rallying points all along- the people and government all know this and the desperate measures taken by the government will not suppress the voice of the people. The news is accurately reporting that this reinforces the hatred of Mubarak. What kind of tyrant turns off cell phones and the internet? This is the exact kind of autorcratic BS that send them to the streets already and will keep them in the streets until he steps down. This however doesn’t seem to be much of a likely prospect. One friend put it this way and I agree, “Mubarak will leave the presidency when all Egypt is flat and everyone in it is dead.”
2:00PM
Things have started to heat up…they have broken through all street barriers and are all over the place. News reports are that there are tens of thousands – perhaps as many as 200,000 people in downtown Egypt…numbers are hard to guess – but I see the videos and it is HUGE. They are all over Cairo. Alexandria and Suez are where the most violence has already started. Tahrir in Cairo is still relatively peaceful.
7:00PM
Things have gotten violent. They ave set the NDP headquarters on fire in multiple cities around Egypt. Police stations are on fire everywhere. They set the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on fire too. They have set police cars and security personnel carriers on fire – they have gone crazy.
12:30AM
Violent clases persist – averages are that the death toll in Egypt today is over 100 perhaps as high as 150. Fires rage, rocks fly, tear gas fills the air. The US and others are commenting but without much teeth. The Egyptian people are watchin the rest of the world too because they want the support of democratic and free people around the world in their struggle in Egypt. The protesters are calling out wondering why the tear gas canisters which are littering the streets are stamped with “Made in the USA” on the bottom. Why has the US propped up such an illegitimate and violent oppressive regime.
Saturday
January 29th
Day 5 of protests

12:00PM
The people are out earlier than normal today. It is still a holiday. Yesterday the mobilization of Christians and Muslims together to fight together has been inspiring. Poor and old protest next to rich and young. Mubarak has tried hard to keep the people divided by class and religion and age to keep people from mobilizing together. He has tried hard to maintain an atmosphere of fear of the regime to stay in power. All of these chains yoked on the Egyptian people have been broken. Mubarak is in trouble. He is scared…. No internet and phones and curfews starting earlier and earlier each day. The curfew today is 3pm…..this man is desperate and we have finally heard from him – but his announcement was ridiculous. He basically said last night that the Egyptian people already have all the freedoms they need – that’s why they’ve been allowed to protest and take to the streets. That’s why he fired his cabinet government last night and will announce their replacements today. The people are NOT satisfied in any way with this ridiculous and quite frankly offensive statement….. how dumb does he think his own people are.

3:00PM
Things are calmer than yesterday – violence is not present – protesters are defying curfew once again like normal – nothing has changed except the mood is that of peace. Numbers are smaller than yesterday but they are still out in force and number and protesting not for a new cabinet but for Mubarak to go. Rumors persist that Gamal (his son) and Suzanne (his wife) have fled to the UK. These are as of yet unconfirmed and no one knows…..There are rumors that Egyptian business men have fled the country and transferred their money to overseas banks…. Who knows….things are NOT slowing down. Will peace return? I don’t know and its anyone’s guess right now.
7:00PM
The people are protesting – violence is not happening….Suez is quiet for one day with nearly all protesters gone. Alexandria has been quiet. The military showed up last night to loud and raucous applause of the people. I have never seen an image of tanks rolling down streets and the people in sheer admiration of them. The people had been calling on them to come save them from police. It became apparent today that they are here to restore calm –(According to staements) but they have done NOTHING. They are bystanders only in this clash – but the police are gone. They have fled, they are absent – no one knows where they are….. Rumors persist they have been fired - the police force is dissolved……
11:00PM
Protests have turned to looting and rioting. Buildings are being broken into and looted – banks, stores, homes and apartment buildings. Protesters have mostly gone home to protect their streets. My friend Khalid has taken to his street with men from his street and reports all over Egypt of the same thing happening. Home made neighborhood patrols and road blocks. They are armed with guns and knives and sticks and are stopping EVERY one that goes by in car or walking and check their IDs and want to know where they are going and who they are. If the military and police wont protect Egypt and its people – the people will protect themselves. I know I have said this before but I respect and admire the Egyptian people. They inspire me. I am proud. I am inspired.



















Sunday
January 30th
Day 6 of the protests

2:30PM
Things are back flaring up again.. the police are still missing – the people are still protesting and the military is still watching. The military has now become the most elusive actor in this whole mess. If they are pro-Mubarak then why are they not stopping the people? If they are pro-people then why are they out there anyways….
8:00PM
The looting has mostly stopped because those caught by the military and by the neighborhood watches had government and internal security ID badges. This proves what we all thought. The Egyptian people have NOT turned on each other. They have not started looting – it’s the police and Mubarak’s boys and they are tryin to turn people against people and let blame fall on the protesters and let the world think that the Egyptian people are crazy and violent…. It HAS NOT WORKED. We all know the truth. Mubarak will stop at NOTHING to conquer and divide Egypt. I don’t say this often – I want this man DEAD. A special, extra-hot area of hell awaits this man. Egypt may be burning this week – but you sir will burn soon.
11:30PM
Things are calm again. Talked to Khalid again and they are on the streets again. They have caught looters and caught a policeman with an AK47 and took it. I also realized that I have not kept you up to date on my day to day life. The students are dropping like flies – the study abroad students’ universities are pulling them home and other Americans are going too. It’s a slow trickle of people out. We go out during the morning when there is not curfew and buy phone credit and food and cigarettes. We are staying sane. We watch TV all day long. Take small breaks to eat, talk maybe play UNO. No internet is driving us all crazy. I don’t know if said this earlier. Cell phones were only off for about 36 hours. But the internet is still off, and any other mode of communication that is NOT one-to-one. So messenger services on phones like BBM and even text messaging is shut down. I have talked to mom and dad a few times – once a day basically to keep them up-to-date and let them know I’m alive.
We are wondering why the AUC administration has been silent and missing. We need answers, we need their face in front of us. We are bored, scared, confused and need answers….. Of course school has been cancelled for the first week. It was supposed to start today. But who knows how long this will last. No one has answers. News is that the US has gotten tougher with Egypt and has refused weapons reinforcements but Israel has heeded their calls and sent more weapons. Shame on you Israel. Stay out of Egyptian politics. Stay out of the way of the people having their say.
Monday
January 31st
Day 7 of the protests

1:00PM
The police have announced they are returning to the streets with new weapons from Israel. It’s not a rumor anymore – they have admitted it out loud. Military showed up in Sinai peninsula last night. This is a violation of the peace treaty with Israel – but Israel has allowed it…. They are meddling…. But that is for another blog another time. This is about Egypt. Americans are still leaving but it’s crazy. They go to the airport and wait in lines for about a day and a half. They are then put on a plane to Niccocea Cyprus, Istanbul Turkey or Athens Greece. Then once they’ve dropped you off – you’re on your own. The worst thing is that the government makes you sign a form saying that they can bill you for the flight. And since its an “emergency flight” even though it’s at most 3 hours – the bill is for $3000. The other countries that have been evacuating – Jordan, Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc are flying their people HOME for FREE. What is America’s problem. I’m angry. What Senator do I write? Wait…. I don’t have mail or internet…..
7:00PM
Nothing much to report. The university president came today to talk to us. She did a pretty good job at calming people down. School is now cancelled for two weeks. They are telling us that if things continue we will probably have to look at completing a six-week summer-style semester. They wlll let us know of course as things continue- but this is most likely the contingency plan if this stuff continues long term. I don’t want to bore you with details you probably are watching. And besides not much has changed. People protesting in Alex, Suez and Cairo, no one cares about the curfew. I don’t know what to do. A part of me wants to go, part of me wants to stay. I am running out of money. With no school – there is no student loans so there is no mmoney from a refund that I can live off of.








Tuesday
February 1st
Day 8 of the protests

2:00PM
The dorms has calmed down because we are feeding them and organizing game nights and opening the gym so people are not bored out of their minds anymore. The protests are happening today. They were calling for a million people. By all accounts – BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera in Tahrir and the surrounding side streets right now there are over 2 million. They are planning to march towards the Presidential Palace in Masry Gadeeda. It’s about an hour walk. They are gathering but not marching yet. We will see….

8:00PM
We have been informed that all Americans are being forcibly evacuated out of Cairo. We need to tell the students in the dorms that the Americans will be placed on a bus tomorrow and pulled out without scaring both the Americans and non-American students alike…this will be difficult and needs to be handled correctly. This is the tough part of being an RA in a crisis….
10:00PM
We made the announcement and some people freaked. They wondered if Americans are being pulled out – something must be going down soon so they will need to leave too. However we found out with a phone call from the University President that the messages and instructions we had been given by the AUC New York Office were wrong. They really screwed the pooch on this one. We had to re-gather the students and inform them to ignore everything we said…how embarrassing… this was a mess of a night.
12:00AM
Mubarak just spoke. He announced that he restructured his cabinet for the people. He stopped any violence against the people. However he was staunch that he WILL NOT step down from power and he will not run for president in the new election planned for this fall. The Constitution requires that the NDP (his party) is the only party allowed to nominate the President. He asked Parliament to amend these articles to allow more people to run. The mood in the dorms is that this will passify the protesters – but I’m not sure…. Time and tomorrow will tell.



Wednesday
February 2, 2011
Day 9 of the Protests

11:00AM
I have been awoken with a message that we are being evacuated from the dorms and moved to the Zamalek dorms today at 1:00PM. The University president showed up and basically said that we are in the middle of the desert but in Zamalek we have pharmacies and restaurants and cafes and stores we can go to and its easier to communicate in one place. This sucks. I have packed my bags and am ready for the bus…… who knows what is going on.
5:30PM
We just got back to the dorms and internet has been restored. The people are in the streets protesting again – but things have gotten violent between the protesters. There are two huge groups and they are battling each other. They are called the pro and anti-Mubarak groups and it is violent and both the police and military have pulled out of Tahrir. Many are injured but ambulances can’t get in. We are watching it live on TV and it is depressing. It has become apparent over time though that the anti-government protesters are catching the pro-Mubarak proteters and finding government IDs on them. And the pro-Mubarak people are being arrested by the other side. It is police and security forces disguised as protesters fighting and killing Egyptians. There is something seriously wrong with this picture. This man wants Egypt to be destroyed…..