From the Tahrir Square in Egypt to the streets of Tempe, people are shouting for peace and justice in the Middle East and in Egypt, urging an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year reign.
A sea of red, white and black Egyptian flags waved across the northwest corner of University Drive and Mill Avenue Monday evening, where at least 60 protesters gathered to support the uprising in Egypt and the spread of justice.
“From the East to the West, the revolution will not rest,” the protesters chanted.
Protests have been shaking the foundations of autocratic governments across the East. Tunisia’s president was overthrown on Jan. 14. Jordan has been rocked by protests for the past three weeks as the country’s citizens urge Prime Minister Samir Rifai to stand down. Other demonstrations have taken place in Yemen and Algeria.
History sophomore Esra Radai, who stood with the crowd, is taken aback by what’s happening in Egypt.
“It’s ridiculous what’s going on over there,” she said. “People don’t have rights like we do here.”
What amazes Radai even more is how many people know nothing about it.
“I’ve talked to people today, and they don’t even know what’s going on,” she said.
On Jan. 27, the Egyptian government turned off Internet across the country in response to protests that started Jan. 25 against Mubarak and the government itself.
“We want their freedom,” said 42-year-old Palestine native and protester Amal Elzayyat, referring to the Egyptian people. “People want change, people want to live. That is all.”
Elzayyat, who has witnessed the Middle East as it is now, said people aren’t free there. She recollects people living underground, on the streets and even in graveyards.
“They want their freedom,” she said. “We support them.”
Lina Bearat, civil engineering junior and an organizer of the protest, is eager to see freedom achieved in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.
“We want everyone to see that Middle Easterners don’t want dictatorships,” said Bearat, who is president of Students for Justice in Palestine at ASU. “We want Americans to see that we want democracy.”
Elzayyat, who said she is excited for the future of Egypt, thinks she knows what’s in store for the country.
“Democracy is next,” she said.
Reach the reporter at ktenagli@asu.edu
