Youth. women and entire families celebrated the fall of Mubarak outside Dearborn City Hall Feb. 12
By Diane Bukowski
DEARBORN – “It’s just like an avalanche,” said Hasan Nawash. “This is a more significant loss to Israel and the U.S. than the fall of the Shah. The real Egypt is coming back in the most beautiful form, with the masses of the people, women, workers, the old people, the youth, professors, doctors, entire families. The people have been governing themselves for 18 days now. Today I’m proud to be an Arab, and proud to be a Palestinian.”
Nawash spoke at a celebration of the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s government, held at the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn, and sponsored by the Congress of Arab-American Organizations (CAAO) Feb. 11. The following day, a larger celebration was held outside the Dearborn City Hall.
Rally at Lebanese American Heritage Club Feb. 11
Osama Siblani, CAAO spokesman and publisher of the Arab-American News, told the gathering. “This is the most significant event in the history of the modern Arab world. Today we witnessed the rise of the Sphinx. We saw a 30-year dictatorship crumble before our eyes in 18 days. Nobody believed in them, but they believed in themselves. They marched for the rights of the Palestinians, the Iraqis, the Yemenis as well as themselves. There will be a domino effect throughout the region, in Morocco, Lebanon, and Africa.”
Siblani added, “We urge the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress to take a firm and unwavering stance in support of the Egyptian people and the ousting of not just the dictator Hosni Mubarak but also his entire regime. We strongly urge the U.S. to reverse its support of oppressive totalitarian regimes in the Arab world in support of the ideals of freedom and democracy that we cherish here.”
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Rally at City Hall Feb. 12
Speakers noted that Mubarak’s resignation took place on the anniversary of the fall of the Shah of Iran on Feb. 11, 1979. Arab-Americans of all nationalities joined in singing the Egyptian national anthem, as children cavorted in the aisles of the hall.
“This is the beginning of a bigger movement for independence, for the integrity of our people,” one speaker said. “This will be a great test for people of honor. We are proud of the Shia and Sunni brothers who supported this from Lebanon, and of the unity of Muslims and Christians. We are proud of the honorable position of President Barack Obama, and admire the army. We know it is not over, and there are many challenges ahead of us.
In a separate interview, Nawash said, “I am cautiously optimistic. We celebrated
Hasan Nawash
the rise of Obama but have been disappointed on all fronts, including the Palestinian question. The Egyptian army is still infiltrated at the top by generals with ties to all kinds of billionaires. We must be responsible and alert. The U.S. administration, with the role it plays in the world, will try to frustrate any people’s movement.”
Nawash said the Palestinian people will target Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, because of his collaboration with the U.S. administration.
Those celebrating at both events took time to pay tribute to over 365 Egyptians who died in the uprising, saying that they and their families had sacrificed their lives for the future of their people. A speaker announced that CAAO is starting a trust fund for the families of the victims.
They also paid tribute to the the thousands of Arab people in Lebanon and Gaza whose uprisings paved the way for the Egyptian Revolution.
“Today, we have conquered again in Tahrir Square,” they said.
Another rally was held Feb. 20 in front of the Dearborn City Hall, sponsored by the CAAO.
Child at Dearborn rally Feb. 12
US Greens celebrate Egypt’s giant step towards democracy, assert that the Egyptian people must build a new government according to their own interests, not US strategic demands.
DEMAND U.S. FREEZE $70 BILLION IN MUBARAK ASSETS
Feb. 13, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party of the United States congratulated the Egyptian people and called President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation a huge step towards democracy, human rights, and stability for their country.
“The Egyptian revolution is a victory for the people of Egypt, and also the victory for an idea — the idea that violent regimes can be overthrown through nonviolent means,” said Romi Elnagar, member of the
Green Party of Louisiana and wife and mother of Egyptian-Americans.
Celebration of Egyptian Revolution in Dearborn Feb. 11
“While police and rampaging pro-Mubark thugs killed 350 and injured thousands more, the protesters themselves remained overwhelmingly peaceful.”
US Greens hoped for an end to the 30-year-old ’emergency decree’ and for a broad-based transitional government that embraced opposition parties, to begin the work of dismantling the brutally oppressive
Mubarak regime. The next step will take place when the military relinquishes power and Egyptians establish a civil government with a constitution, free and fair elections, democratic institutions, and
the means to solve problems like unemployment and poverty.
Greens also urged the Obama Administration to cooperate in an investigation of the alleged $70 billion that Mr. Mubarak’s accumulated during his corrupt regime and to freeze any of his assets that are held in the US.
Around 1,200 workers strike at the Oil and Soap Factory in the city of Mansoura, Egypt, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Growing labor unrest, rekindled by the 18-day uprising that toppled longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, is deepening economic malaise and compounded by weeks of bank closures that are hampering business operations and the drying up of tourism - a major money earner for Egypt. (AP Photo)
“We call on the US government to avoid meddling and respect the right of Egyptians to rule themselves. Aid for Egypt must be for humanitarian purposes, not military, and without strings attached. If the Obama Administration tries to press the new Egypt into subordination, to satisfy the US’s strategic military and economic interests in the region, we will betray the Egyptian people and their right to democratic sovereignty,” said Laura Wells, 2010 Green Party candidate for Governor of California.
US Greens noted that much of the conflict in the Middle East and resentment of the US by Egyptians and other populations in the region centers around the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“Since making its 1979 ‘cold peace’ with Israel, the Egyptian government has supported Israel’s ongoing apartheid and dispossession of Palestinians, most recently complying with the siege of Gaza, in return for billions in aid from the US. We look to the formation of a democratic Egypt which adheres to international law and reflects its citizens’ long-standing opposition to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians,” said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party’s International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl ).
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
• Green Party ‘Egypt in Revolt’ page with news feeds
http://www.gp.org/egypt.html
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TAKE TO THE STREETS IN EGYPT
Feb 15, 2011 |
By TAREK EL-TABLAWY and SARAH EL DEEB
Associated Press
Bus drivers strike at a bus depot in the lower-income neighborhood of Shubra Mazalat in Cairo, Egypt Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011. Bus drivers and public transport workers in Cairo joined thousands of state employees on strike Thursday in spreading labor unrest that has pumped further strength and momentum into Egypt's wave of anti-government protests. Writing in Arabic on placard center-left reads "Increase basic pay" and on placard center-right "End of work pension: 60 months."
CAIRO, Egypt — Thousands of government
employees, from ambulance drivers to police and bank workers, protested to demand better pay Monday, in a growing wave of Egyptian labor unrest rekindled by the democracy uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Egypt’s military rulers asked for an end to the protests in what could be a final warning before an outright ban.
The military said it needed calm to implement what it promises will be an eventual handover to civilian rule under a new, more democratic system. It has set a swift timetable for change, saying it aims to have the constitutional amendments drawn up within 10 days and a referendum to approve them within two months ahead of elections for a civilian government, according to youth activists who met two of the top generals.
The coalition of young activists who organized the unprecedented protest movement pressured the military Monday for new steps to ensure the autocratic system that has pervaded Egypt for the past 30 years is dismantled. Protesters welcomed the military’s takeover after Mubarak’s resignation, but many remain wary of the military’s intentions.
In a list of demands Monday, they called for the dissolving of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party and for the creation within 30 days of a cabinet of technocrats. They want it to replace the current caretaker government, appointed by Mubarak after the protests erupted Jan. 25.
Public transport workers on strike in Egypt
The military’s patience with the strikes, which are independent of the activists, may be running out as it struggles to restore stability and get Egypt’s economy functioning again.
Egypt’s dusty streets were transformed Monday into fertile ground for anyone with a grievance against anything.
Employees of the National Bank of Egypt, the largest government-owned bank, went on strike, a day after hundreds of them massed outside its headquarters.
Meanwhile, momentum is building to move against the international assets of Mubarak, his family and regime officials.
The U.S. is examining requests from Egypt’s new government to freeze the assets of top Mubarak aides, but not the president himself, a senior U.S. official said.
