#Jan25 is the twitter tag for the protests in Egypt, now in their third day. Remarkable to see the organizing taking place on Facebook and spreading like it is. Here’s a list of US events.
I hope these protesters do not find themselves on the end of a violent, totalitarian police crackdown. I also hope that the destabilizing effect doesn’t result in extremists assuming control of governments. Let democracy shine through, not dictatorship.
Update 1: It appears that Internet access has been cut off in Egypt as well as SMS in an effort to prevent protesters from communicating with each other and the rest of the world. Not good. There are also reports that 8 opposition leaders have been arrested. Also bad news.
Protests are also rising in Yemen against their government. Change is coming, I think. Might be faster than anyone would like, but it’s on the way.
Here’s a pretty amazing graph of Internet traffic into and out of Egypt.
Update 2: If you’ve been watching one of the corporate media cartels for your news about Tunisia and Egypt, step out and read this editorial from Al Jazeera. And then tell me if you don’t see signs of the same problems here.
Update 3 TwitterBud @watergatesummer has a great live stream of events unfolding in Egypt. Also @bencnn, who is in Egypt. One remarkable aspect of this is the solidarity between Muslims and Christians against a dictatorship.
“Egyptian Christians said they will guard the Muslims from the police while they on Friday Pray.” Amazing solidarity. #Egypt #Jan25
Some recent tweets from @bencnn:
Just saw blue fiat entering main tv building in Maspiro when guards opened trunk, full of baseball bats. Car allowed in #egypt #jan25
Cairo streets full of trucks with riot police. Tensions EXTREMELY #egypt #jan25
Hoping and praying people this will not become a crackdown on peaceful protesters, but it isn’t looking good.
Update 3: I hope this report is wrong:
But already I have started getting reports from citizen journalists that government-hired thugs will make sure that nothing about tomorrow is peaceful. They say that in several low-income parts of Cairo and Alexandria, government-hired thugs were seen to be splashing petroleum over parked cars. This to prepare for protests in which they’ll light vehicles on fire when the time is right for them.
They’ve also heard rumours that the intelligence services will release a separate group of thugs under the name Akhwan al- Haq, or Brothers of Truth, a trumped-up extremist group, that will charge through the streets with swords and caustic acid to splash on the protesters – thus placing all the blame of a peaceful uprising gone violent on a certain kind of Islamic extremism.
Wikileaks has released many cables concerning US/Egyptian relations. The US has been pressuring Mubarak for many years with regard to human rights. Also interesting role of Egyptian bloggers, and social media.
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