Friday, January 28, 2011
3:00pm
Ahmad al-Fawal (one of my cousins) just called. He said he was on a mobile, and don’t ask how. He’s demonstrating on the streets in Zagazig, where my dad grew up and much of our family still lives.
Al-Jazeera live is down again. “No or bad signal.” We’re waiting to receive a new frequency. I’m sure this cycle will continue all day. Another futile effort of the government to quell the demonstrations.
The streets are flooded from the water cannons. I doubt the water cannons are actually very effective. Unless you’re standing within maybe 20’ of the narrow stream, it wouldn’t even be painful. You might get drenched. So what. Waste of water, in my opinion.
Lamya is back from her exam. It went well. I asked what the streets are like. “Zay isshawaar’a?” “Mafeesh hadd mowgoud khaalis” No one is on the streets in Nasser City.
Watching BBC Arabic… images of people fleeing Tahrir Square, holding cloths over their faces, weeping and rubbing their eyes from tear gas.
Men, women, and children have all taken to the streets. The vast majority are young people, probably 20 to 40 years old. The young, unemployed, and enraged…
Policemen are waving their batons, hitting everyone – protesters, each other, themselves…
I will call home soon, and ask Mom to log onto my facebook page to relay a message: “Dictated message from Sara (via Mom): New demonstrations have begun throughout Egypt. Cairo is more chaotic than ever. Protesters are clashing with police everywhere. I am safe, watching the news with my family in Nasser City, away from the downtown area. We have no internet and no cell phone service, and Al-Jazeera Live has been repeatedly jammed. The land lines are still working. If you need to reach me, call my uncle’s number... I am documenting everything about my experience. I will post it when we have internet again. Stay informed. I suggest BBC and English.aljazeera.net. Please keep Egypt in your thoughts and your prayers today. It will be a day to remember.”
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