The scene seemed more like a celebration as people congratulated each other as former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down less than 24 hours before. Others swayed to the sound of patriotic Arabic music while holding signs displaying slogans in support of the people of Egypt.
People chanted “One, two, three, Egypt is free,” and, “Tahya Masr” (long live Egypt) at the rally that began at noon and was organized by Amnesty International UK to show solidarity with the people of Egypt and the wider Middle East.
People’s eyes were fixed on a big screen and a stage where officials from Amnesty International, and other organizations such as the National Union of Journalists and the Council for Arab-British Understanding, delivered speeches. Recorded footage, photos and interviews with protestors from Tahrir Square were shown on the screen with participants at the rally shedding tears while watching.
Omar and Mahmoud, two young Egyptian men who live in the UK, were waving the Egyptian flag and dancing to music that filled the air infused with cheers and applause. “Today we are celebrating a new Egypt,” they told Arab News. “At last, it is time for Egypt to become an actual country instead of a corrupt state,” said Mahmoud.
There were others who were not Egyptian but had come to participate in the rally. Heather had painted her cheeks with Egyptian flags and had joined her friend to celebrate Egypt. She held up a board that read, “In Solidarity… In Defiance.” “We want people in Egypt to know that they are not alone and people around the world are supporting them,” she said.
“I am here in solidarity with all Egyptians who have fought for their rights and stayed for days in Tahrir Square,” said Anne from London. “Today we are all united. It doesn’t matter if we are not blood relatives as long as we all share the same vision that we want the world to be a better place,” she added.
The rally had been planned weeks before. With Mubarak stepping down, the event took place as planned but with a more celebratory spirit. The event was also organized to support people who are still anxious about their future, and families who lost their loved ones during the 18-day protests.
“We are here to show solidarity with the people who have been protesting for over two weeks, day and night. They have stood up in the face of violence and oppression for the past 30 years and asked to have their demands met. It is really inspiring to see all that,” said Osman, a Turk who is based in England.
“President Mubarak has stepped down, but the transitional period is so important to ensure democracy and oppression doesn’t happen again in the future,” said Osman, who had painted his face with the colors of the Egyptian flag.
Representatives of Amnesty International UK were giving away signs that read “In Solidarity… In Defiance.”
James Lynch, Middle East spokesperson for Amnesty International, said that Amnesty wanted to celebrate and congratulate the Egyptians for their courage and commitment to achieve a fundamental change through peaceful protest.
“On the other hand, this is only the start. One man leaving is not the end of this,” Lynch said. He added that the state of emergency in Egypt was still in place on Saturday morning. Security forces still have the power to detain people, torture is still going on and people are still being arrested “for expressing their conscience.”
“Egyptians don’t want to move from one repressive system to another. It is essential that the international community stays engaged and enforces pressure to ensure reform happens. We challenge those in power now to set a timetable for implementing that reform immediately,” Lynch added.
Participants at the event also included people carrying Algerian and Palestinian flags and signs reading “Free Palestine” and “End Siege on Gaza.”
“People are also gathered here to say that there are people across the Middle East who are trying to have their voices heard trying to express themselves through peaceful protest. We need to protect the rights of people to do that and we need to tell them that the international community stands in solidarity with them,” Lynch said.
