Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Protestors defiant as Tahrir sit-in continues

A women in Tahrir Square holds a photograph of a man killed during the revolution.

Protestors in Tahrir Square remained defiant tonight, as they entered the fifth night of their sit-in after Friday's large demonstration. At least three stages stood on the periphery of the square, playing host to everything from musical performances to political speeches. The number of people still in the square at 11 p.m. was staggering.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the military body ruling Egypt, issued a harshly worded statement earlier today that suggested its members were fed up with the sit-in and other protests across the country. Tonight, I spoke with a few protestors who have been sleeping in tents in the middle of Tahrir for the last few days, and they were incensed by SCAF's words -- one man called them a "threat" but added that he wasn't scared of anything.

I can't imagine what it must be like to be a young Egyptian now, finally able to speak your mind and hold demonstrations that actually bring about change. Yet the threat of violence remains, and there very well could be clashes in Tahrir in the next couple of days. It's hard to know, but what is clear is that the sit-in is still going strong.

I shot this video at 11 p.m. tonight (if you can't see it, click here):

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