The day of anger

Its not a picnic

This is an email that I wrote on Jan 27th to a few friends that I knew had the intention to go to the protests on Jan 28th. It was written after my experience with being arrested on Jan 26th.

Guys
Alsalamo Alikoum

P.S. IF YOU ARE FORWARDING THIS EMAIL REMOVE ALL TO EMAILS AND FORWARD IT WITHOUT ALL THE NAMES OF PEOPLE ON IT TO YOUR LIST

The intent here is not to makes you stay at home, but an effort and reminder to make sure you are aware of a few things that I think might be useful.

Let me start by saying that the turn of events as they are unfolding, it is not a picnic. Remember two things before you venture out

There is lies, damn lies and statistics, and if you think you are always not going to THE STATISTIC then please think again

• If you think that you usually get treated ok, and get along in many situations and that this is going to apply all the time all the case, think again
• If you plan to venture out none the less, let me share with you some ideas and things to take care of.

WALK WALK WALK

• NEVER NEVER NEVER walk alone
• Avoid as much as possible that you are only a pair, best to be more than 2 (preferable an even number) and walk in pairs. Makes sure to pick the pairs that make sense, and that might fit several criteria in the following list.
• Make sure to agree on meeting points, and if things get chaotic make sure to go to the safest of these points ASAP so that everyone is accounted for.
• If something happens, NEVER NEVER NEVER ALL go to help, let one maybe a little more if it seems that it might sort it out totally , not just help, again go if you can sort it out totally only. Others need to stay back, they are the life line of those who get entangled in a situation. Elgarry in this case is "kol elgad3anah", make sure you keep aware of the updates with those who got entangled.
• DON"T TALK, just walk. Forget about talking sense just follow orders when things are still under control and don't think you can make an argument that is meaningful. Bare in mind these people are on high alert, ready to take anyone just like vultures and Mad dogs, and they will CREATE any situation to take it out.
• The more sunlight there is the safer it is to walk, the more the time gets later be wary of your safety.
• Remember the "law of large numbers", the larger the crowd you are joining the safer "statistically" you are.
• Remember, "curiosity killed the cat", so lets keep that to reports on facebook and Twitter. Don't just go to be an eye witness unless you have a plan.
• Be as discrete as possible, if you are going on a walk with a few make it look normal. Forget the big cameras and the things that give you away.

Your Phone:

• Forget the fancy touch screen phone, if it doesn't have a screen that would be better. Definitely avoid something that is ultra bright and expensive. Make sure the numbers are reachable on it quickly, and that all is handy. If you are addicted to data on your phone have a few people hold data ready phones but most have cheap cheap phones as described. Would be good if you have a spare battery and that you have numbers across different carriers.
• Always remember phone numbers of people by heart, and not on your phone's memory, use the memory cells for these numbers they might need to be handy. The following are numbers you need to know

1. Numbers of people walking with you they are your first and best life line, they are there, give them information, especially those who have access to good potential resources.
2. Numbers of people YOU KNOW CAN HELP. The closer they are to the place and more senior the more quick and effective. Make sure you know how to reach them and that they are ones that can actually help. If you can test the fact that they can help that would be better.
3. Numbers of common friends who can report news about someone who might have himself in a situation, if you already know the right person to call in the family that would also work. Make sure to make sense on who to talk to (Don't go calling his sick dad, or his aging mom, be wise) and try to be as focused as possible. Don't go on calling a zillion people and then having to handle the flooding of useless Baby sitting.

Attire:

• Dress code, make sure to dress appropriately, In addition to the common things (jeans, sneakers, no valuable stuff) things you want to consider

1. Make sure everything is tight, no open jackets or loss items. The less you have the better.
2. If in the evening, the more padding you have the better, and I am not here talking about keeping warm
3. If you will get hot, and starting early consider getting a light bag to carry the extra cloths, don't keep them on. Also make sure the bag can be parted from you by choice easily.

• Avoid having valuable stuff, keep your wallet back in the car or at home in a safe place. Hang on to the ID cards and some cash in different bill sizes. If you have health coverage cards, keep the information handy.
• Makes sure the most valuable of your possessions are in you front pockets (If you really need the wallet that is where it goes). Distribute you cash in many pockets.
• Wear briefs not boxers, yes I said that in an email to you guys. Its you safest pocket if you need it for any reason. Make sure things wouldn't fall down.
• Wear long socks, you can use them for limited items.
• If you can wear some head cover, it might be worth it at times.
• If you wear glasses and can live without them, forget them and keep them safe. If you can't or can only manage daytime and not night, loose them as much as possible.

Misc:

• Keep water handy as much as possible. If it will make you look odd, then make sure you get your filling whenever possible.
• If you are on medications, keep your regular stuff with you in groups in one of your pockets. Better still if you can't function without them stay back.
• If you are unfit, or not in top shape, save yourself for another day.
• Tear gas, you need to be prepared. They are the usual scarf over the nose and mouth and the more sophisticated Pepsi 2L bottle gas mask. Vinger on the filter of the air passageways is said to be a good solution. Keep some in a small bottle with your supplies

If it turns sour:

Ok, well things are not all good and dandy, it might happen even to you. Here are some things I think are useful

• Resist, to a limit. If it isn't happening then make sure to save energy for later. YOU WILL NEED IT. Make sure you are not seen as a sissy, but don't think you are Hercules, it turns them on and intimidates them more
• If you can get out of there, do it.
• Don't talk too much or make an argument, you will only get it worse, it will waste energy and effort on your end.
• If you are big and strong, put that to help your partners who aren't as lucky, make sure to be their shield and their support
• Be wise, if you are out numbered forget about Bruce Li, that is only in the movies. But remember, they are not their for a cause, but for an immediate reaction, and they will come in numbers and not alone.
• MAKE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CALL FIRST, get the info out then work on other things. Remember you first life line is the party of people with you that are still out there.
• If you are in with other people you don't know, don't assume you can be totally open with them. You don't know which side they are on and they are from the Egyptian community which spans a lot of different types of people.
• Stay as calm as you can to think straight, easier said then done but make sure to put your best effort at it.
• Those trying to help, avoid chitchat with the guy in trouble, and call only when absolutely necessary. Manage on your own and make wise judgements.

If you are still reading, change doesn't come with no cost, and it might be something that affect you although you might think that going through an incident yourself is a grave thing, it is not something that would make the news or accounted for from the history books. Don't worry it is noted where it really means something.

Yours
“It always seems impossible until its done.” Nelson Mandela

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A day only a few would remember

Jan 26th, 2011 will probably not be a day that would go down in history with bold characters, and would probably be dwarfed with the memories of Jan 25th, 28th and a long and hard spin of events till Feb 11^th and beyond. It might occasionally be remembered in association with Wael Ghoneim, who was arrested on the day and his release was a moment that helps reenergize the masses in Egypt’s revolution. That would probably also lose momentum in the history books as time goes by. However, with a limited few Jan 26th would probably be a day to mark, including myself. As grave as the events of the day were, I have to admit that it was also a day that my lucky stars were aligned to perfection.

The day started with a phone call from Kareem, who works with me in the start-up I am in. He was calling to take permission to go downtown and join protests he has heard happening there. He missed the event of the 25th and told me that he will feel very bad if he didn't participate on the day. I was hoping my partner would be available at the time, he would have talked him out of it. I on the other hand could feel for his ask and had to only allow him to go and asked him to take care of himself and stay safe. I headed to the office and shortly Kareem join us. He told me that he walked around for a long time in downtown and didn't see anything of any magnitude. He saw a few people here and there and a lot of presence from people on the outlook for protestors. People would come close to him and sort of question why he is there. He was disappointed and decided to come to the office for the rest of the day. However, his story was someone increasing my curiosity to know what was going to happen. I had rationalized with myself about next step later in the night on Jan 25th with Nafie and thought Friday was the next day, but with nothing being said around I was not sure what was going to happen. I continued my day and in many occasions was more interested in trying to find news online than anything else.

After the day I work, I decided to meet Atallah and Nafie, a couple of my friends, who were with me the day before and curious about what was happening. We have been hearing about protests in downtown all day. Some said there were gathering in Talat Harb square, some said in Ramsis, some said next to the Journalist syndicate but nothing confirmed. We meet up around 9pm to go together downtown and check things out (This same curiosity was probably what drove a lot of people down in Friday the 28th when they cut off the internet and mobile service).

I took my car and parked in Abdel Moneim Raid square next to the inter-city bus terminal and we started walking into downtown towards Talat Harb sqaure. Things seemed quite but with the halo of unease. Occasionally we would see people that looked weird as we walked through downtown. We arrived at Talat Hard square and nothing was notable in the square. As we made our way down Talat Hard Street we turned the corner in Abdelkhalek Tharwat street toward Ramisis square. The journalist syndicate had a lot of police force surrounding it and there were a few people inside the entrance but it seemed quite. As we made our way towards Ramsis st, things seemed to be a little more different.

At the corner of Abdelkahlek Tharwat and Ramsis st. is the lawyers syndicate. A significantly larger police force was present and surrounding the syndicate in multiple lines. The lawyers were protesting at the entrance and things were a bit more hyped, the street was more lit up and the voice of protestors was loud enough. At this point things started to unfold, quickly.

I had kept on walking and didn't notice that I was walking alone and that neither Nafie nor Atallah were walking close by. Suddenly a rugged man in plain clothes, obviously a state police thug, started telling me to get out of there and gave me a small push. I did the first mistake of the day, and talked to him. I was telling him who he was to tell me to go, as if I didn't know. He insisted and I suddenly realized that my call on talking to him was a mistake and started to move along. He kept behind me and gave me an occasionally push. Another guy started to come in and then more started to follow. I looked around with the side of my eye to see if Nafie or Atallah were around, but couldn't see them. I started to count more than half a dozen thugs walking behind me.

The group decided they need to push me on the other sidewalk and started to push us across the main street. They were now about a dozen and they started to use profanity. At the corner of my eye I notice Nafie, and he was being pushed by a thug and the whole group to get a bit more violent. Suddenly Nafie started to object to being pushed, and started to shout that right. We were closer to each other and I started to move towards him. The whole group of thugs were now following us and pushing us and we were at the other side of the street. Suddenly someone decided that they should arrest as and the over dozen thugs were now a circle around us. They started to hit us around and I was all over Nafie at the time. Slaps and punches started to be thrown at us and one took my glasses flying off. I managed to catch the frame in my left hand and continued to hold my ground around Nafie as they started to push us back across the street towards the police arrest truck which was parked not too far along the road from the syndicate. The group was getting larger and one old man, a police officer in uniform, started to join and sent a lot of profanity our way. The brought us around to the entrance and started to try to push us up the steps. Punches, slaps and profanity continued to fall on us. The protestors at the syndicate realized the events and started throwing stuff at the car. The car moved along the road and the circle of thugs started to push us towards the car. All through we kept our ground and that was probably another manifestation that my lucky stars were all lined up to perfection.

At the entrance, Nafie was comfortably between my arms ahead of me towards the steps up into the truck. Slaps and punches mixed with a lot of profanity were falling on us. More so now were central police soldiers hitting us with their batons from behind the steel fence on the edge of the sidewalk. They mostly fell to my back and they were taking a long time to get us into the truck. One baton hit me to the head and I lost control instantaneously and got pushed at that moment into the narrow space in the farther end of the truck, and the door was shut. There was another sealed door inside and a few people seemed to be in the cell.

The outside door opened and three thugs climbed in trying to push us to the truck cell. I managed to resist and push them out and stepped down the truck ladder with my back and had Nafie again in front of me on the steps. Thugs started to gather again and slaps, punches and batons fell on me from all around. As I turned to face them and held back the hits I noticed one of the thugs pulling my glass frame out of my hand. I don't think that I got pissed off from the events of the day more than this moment. With all this happening he had no shame in steeling my specs. I looked at him and talked to him about why is he taking them with a lot of disgust. I also think he wouldn't even be able to value them and would probably have no use for them. As I held back more of the things that were happening behind my back I received another blow to the head and losing control instantaneously I was pushed back into the narrow space in the truck and the door was closed.

The door opened quickly and again I stepped down and this time they were frustrated at the resistance and it probably got them more aroused and they started to hit with more viciousness. As the same course of events started again I throw my arm around and managed to get hold of one of the batons. Suddenly the circle of thugs and police ran away. Imagine the type of people they are, one man with a baton had 15 thugs run away. As much as I was frustrated and wanted to land the baton on them, I made sense of the situation and voiced that I will not use it as I held it up. I realized that while I am now armed with a baton they have live bullets around. As much as I wanted to keep my souvenir I throw it to the ground and they quickly regrouped around us again landing more punches, slaps and profanity. A baton hit me to the head and I was pushed into the truck, they quickly followed and pushed us this time into the truck cell.

Inside it was dark, except for a few small windows to the outside. There were six other people inside who apparently were there for a while. They talked to us on what we had. I was sceptic of them and didn't want to talk. All what I was thinking of was what I got myself into and how this would land on my sick father. Nafie realized that he lost his wallet somewhere in the street and started to panic more. I also started to feel horrible and guilty that I got him into all of this. After trying to shout outside that he lost his wallet we started to rationalize a little and decided to make phone calls. I pulled out my phone and called Atallah, he was nearby and his brother Ahmed was the deputy director in the Azbakeya police headquarters which was not far away, but he didn't reply. Nafie called his wife and she went on to call a relative in the state police. The reply came that there is nothing to do and that he will ask about Nafie in two days. Atallah called me back and I told him that we were in the truck and after a few moments he realized where we are.

One of the guys in the truck started to talk about the phone as we were talking, and that they would come and take them. I was still sceptic of them but took their advice and put my phone safely in a very private place. They seemed to have been in the cell for a few hours and they were complaining and argue amongst themselves about what to do. I was more apologetic to Nafie and feeling guilty about it and worried dearly about my father hearing the news.

Time went slowly as we waited, I think that the whole arrest took about 30 mins or more that passed quickly. I heard Atallah outside the truck calling and then he went away. More time passed, about 20 minutes or more that felt like a lifetime, and then I heard someone calling Nafie's name and making sure that we were in the truck. More time passed as we waited inside. The door opened and we got called to come down. The closed behind us and a group of people including Atallah and Ahmed were around. We were explaining that we were just walking and then pushed into all of this. We were directed to be quite and walked along with Ahmed and Atallah passed a lot of central police trucks and soldiers till Gala Street. He was talking sense to us that we shouldn't have been here and that we should be more reasonable and that the situation in the country is all stressed out. We crossed to the other side of Gala Street away from the action, thanking him and left on our own. Things started to hit me and I was thankful but I was still pissed off from the guy who stole my spec frame. My upper half was all hurting and I also occasionally noticed a black flash at the top corner of my eye. Nafie was also hurting, mostly in his hand and had a black eye.

Nafie called his wife and started to try and cancel his credit cards and stop the frantic spread of word on the ordeal. As we walked down to the car I realized that I might not be able to drive and had Nafie drive my car (Atallah never drove stick) to the cafe we meet in earlier as he continued to cancel credit cards. A few minutes after we arrived he got a phone call from his wife that someone found his wallet, found a number in there called it. The number was one of his far relatives that he didn't recall, and he in turn called his wife who got to him. We took Atallah's car this time and made our way to downtown to meet this guy. We noticed how big the army of police was in Ramsis Street at Main Ambulance headquarters and decided to wait in July 26^th Street next to the theater next to the Supreme court. The size of the force got shivers into my body. Two guys came with the wallet, which was emptied from all the cash but with all the plastic intact. We gave them money and left.

Pain started to sink in more, my arms and back and Nafie’s hand were the worst, so we went to a hospital in Dokki to do X-rays. We walked to the X-ray and got our images out and examined by the technician. He told me I was ok, and that Nafie's hand had a fracture. We went to the resident orthopaedic and he put in a cast for Nafie. Nafie’s cast was the icon of our group all through the revolution.

We then went to sit down in the same cafe we started the evening in and things started to sink in and we started to get a better understanding of what happened. The staff soon realized that cast and we talked a little about what was happening and that people should start to move.

So what happened, as we turned the corner to Ramsis street, Atallah got distracted by a young man and women asking one of the officers how to get into the lawyer's syndicate. He was replying calmly that they have to go around the corner and in, a seemingly long way taking into mind that they were right in front of the entrance but behind the lines of police soldiers. That event made him fall behind us and not get caught into all of this.

When I called him he got a hold of his brother who was in the same place. As he walked with his brother to the officers from the state police, who had been with him since the day before, they seemed to shun him away literally asking him who he was. He told him that the key to this truck is with the Minister of Interior himself. After almost giving up, one of the soldiers in his group pointed out that a senior officer he knows was around. He was the director of the police headquarters of Azbakeya when Ahmed was first appointed there, moreover he had asked him for a favour about a week before and he managed to help him out on it. He pointed him to another senior officer that was around that would manage more. Our luck was also in a peak there as that officer had just asked Ahmed for a favour a couple of days ago and Ahmed helped him out and he remembered him. He started to talk to the state police officers and finally, with a grudge he finally decided to open the truck cell and let us out.

As much as the turn of events were frustrating and had me full of anger and hate on Friday the 28th, as much as I realized that my (or Nafie's for that matter although he ended up with a cast and a surgery to fix the bone structure) lucky stars were aligned to perfection. Not only have we stepped out of this at the same place, but that we were generally in good shape (I didn't get any fractures) and that the hits to the head didn't do damage to the retina (the black flashes slowly went away). I prayed to God thanking him once I arrived home.

Before we parted for the night I gathered my ideas about a reason why I changed my glasses to an old one I had, I looked so red on the face and had my lips swollen from the punches and my arms all swollen and painful (although I looked like I working out in the gym) , and I left my car at the cafe. I also made up a story for Nafie to explain himself and why he has a cast on his hand other than being arrested. One this that also annoyed me, although was a good thing, was that the following day no one at work realized what happened. I had decided to be quite about it. Moreover, my wife didn't notice much and only later noticed that I changed my specs to an older one (l arrived after she went to bed and left before she got up). She seemed to buy into my story that I tripped while walking to my car the other night and that my specs were broken. Later in the night I self-photographed myself in the mirror to capture what my back looked like. I gave my wife the full details on the Friday after I came back from the events of the 28th, explaining why it has become personal.

After things settled I felt for those who stood at the front lines of the protests and took all the brutality. Those who have went through injustice and how they feel the anger and frustration from within and how more of this would have made a much bigger mark on me. I am still thankful about all of this and still holding the details from my father (If you read this and know him, please keep it to yourself).

The best exit strategy

I came back to the square with a friend at around 10pm, and had some food with me (Nothing fancy, bread and cheese mainly and water). Things were calm, the police were stationed on both sides of the Mogama3 building and around the Egyptian Museum and entrances of downtown while the protesters held the main square. The numbers were definitely less than when I left, but they were still more than I expected and probably outnumbered the police in the area.

People were settled down, chatting reading the paper, eating and debating. I still couldn't figure what was the exit strategy now and there was no clear leader to what was happening, there were no community figures that were present earlier (although they were few during the day). Occasionally people would chant, until out of no where the chant "السعب يريد اسقاط النظام" (The people want to bring down the regime) sparked the crowd and more people started to join in the chant.

The crowd started to dwindle, and people asked for more volunteers to stand closer to the front lines in front of the police at ends of the mogama3 el-Tahrir building. We stood next to the Tahrir underground parking and things remained quite for a while. We were debating what to do, do we leave, what would be the next step.

That debat ended just past 1am. The police car sirens started to sound, and based on earlier events that meant that action was about to happen. It certainly did, tear gas was dropped at huge rates and firing was on all cylinders. The crowd ran towards the Egyptian Museum where more police were lined up battling with the amount of tear gas that was thrown. The police left a passage on the other end of the museum for people to use and we ended up with most of the protesters at Abdelumeneam Riyad square.

A few hundreds gathered there and the small crowd started to chant "السعب يريد اسقاط النظام" stopping traffic in the square. The police replied with more tear gas and rubber bullets and as we were approaching the overpass of 6th October bridge me and Mohamed called it a day. Others took off towards Ramsis square and tried their luck in gather there.

As we made our way back home I was claiming that what just happened was the best exit strategy for the day. We lost a battle but the war was still on and losses were still under control. I learned later of a few injuries amongst the protesters, including a friend who got a rubber bullet in the foot demanding a few stitches. Nonetheless I still believe this was one of the best things that happened on the day of protests. It was a learning experience for many, and the next effort people were more ready and seeing what to expect, although on the scale of what happened on the 28th, the protest of the 25th was more like a game.

I was caught by surprise on the number of people who turned out on the 25th

Jan 25th was marked as a day of protests against the injustice in Egypt. It was a national holiday marking the "Police Day" in remembrance of the bravery of the Police force in Ismailia against the English in the last century. I thought that marking this day with a protest against the brutality of the police was very relevant. As I suggested to people on face book that we should participate I articulated this conviction in the following post

"We need to first agree that we are definitely not in the best shape and despite the assurance from our government that "kolo tamam" it isn't, and the claims that we are living "feeh 3as elrafaheyah" as has been claimed is also kalam fare3'.... A good chunk of the reasons why this is the case is the absence of fairness within this society and the presence of corruption. Both are there because that police is protecting them in favour of the system, and not protecting the society against them (Remember that the slogan of the shorta2 has change from "Elshorta2 fee khedmet elsha3b" to its new version "elshorta2 wee elsha3b fee khedmet elwatan", and while we can debate for hours what "elwatan" is but when it comes to the reality it is the corruption and the individual and not the society by all means.)

All that being said, and with our current state of affairs wouldn't you agree that the perfect moment to object to the oppression and lack of fairness, lack of freedoms, abundance of corruption on the day that the nation celebrates "3id Elshorta2", to voice the fact that we have had enough of oppression, corruption and all those who support and facilitate its existance. That we demand a treatment much better than what we are receiving. That change, substantial and in the right direction, is a must for this nation.

One thing is that doing this once and forgetting about it is not going to take us anywhere, alternatively this could be the start of other things to make sure that the change is needed and a must. A stand that is more long term and that people need to see change before it is too late.

That being said, I strongly question that a lot of people will turn out to this event, and think it will not materialise to anything because this nation is almost clinically dead. Even despite the fact that Tunisians provided to us "elegabaa2 elnamozageyah" that change is possible when we demand it as a unity."

However, I have to admit again that I questioned if people would actually go out to the streets to protest. I was under the impression that this would be a protest of some 1000 people that would last for a hour or so and then I would back to spend time with the kids on the day off. I was definitely surprised to the limit.

I arranged with a few friends to go to Cairo University, which was marked as a starting point to protest, at 2pm on Jan 25th. A friend, Ayman, was coming with the subway so I made arrangements to meet him close to the Dokki subway station. As I went there by taxi, I passed by Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque which was another starting point at 1:30pm, and saw a few tens of protesters surrounded by and outnumbered significantly by a large number of police troops, which was a very usual pattern. As I waited with Ayman for another friend, Mohamed, Ayman mentioned that another friend was joining from Giza square, and he called and said nothing is happening at Cairo University. Just a lot of troops but nothing there. As we waited for them to join we decided to go to Mostafa Mahmoud square which had something happening.

As we walked we were joined with another 4 friends, making us a party of 10 heading towards Mostafa Mahmoud square, and remained to question the magnitude of this. We were chit chating with each other along Elbatal Ahmed AbdelAziz st heading towards Gamet Eldowal street and as we were almost there, a sea of people suddenly appeared. I was surprised. They were walking towards us chanting "wa7ed etneen...Elsha3b elmasry feen" calling on people to join them in the protest that was walking down the street. People of all kind, mostly young middle class individuals that have received the call on Facebook for the day. I couldn't account for the number of people but they certainly outnumbered the expectations of the most optimistic people I know by orders of magnitude. It was a very nice feeling to be within this group.


Police troops were hurrying alongside, trying to close to the crowds and people were chanting "Selmeyah..Selmeyah" (peaceful..peaceful) as they walked. A few fictions with police happened and people broke them up. The crowd occasionally would great the police with good wishes on the day that marks the nation's honouring of them. It was certainly a very surprising event.

We walked passed 6th October bridge and the police troops ran quickly to make sure we don't get on the bridge, which we didn't. I had the impression that the protests were to walk to the main building of the Ministry of Interior in down-town Cairo. We walked to Dokki square and there on to Tahrir st. and moved in large numbers chanting the same slogans calling for people to join and indicating that this is peaceful protest. People pooped out windows and balconies at the sight and watch on the side walks as the protest moved. While in Dokki the call for Asr prayer was voiced in mosques, and people chanted "Hansally fel medan" we will pray in Tahrir square. Surprisingly people were receptive and the protest continued to march.

We reached the Gala bridge and the police tried to stop us, but they soon moved away and allowed us to pass in some groups. They only allowed small numbers at a time and tried to push back. But we managed to pass and walked towards the down-town. The same thing happened on Kas Elnil Bridge and the protest kept on moving.

As we arrived at Tahrir square, the protest headed a little towards Abdulmeniam Reyad square and stopped there, waiting for more people. Some started to pray Asr and as I headed to join a police truck with a water gun started to drive quickly through the crowds, not caring who is infront of it. A young man from the protesters jumped on the ground and managed to pull the man behind the water gun to the ground. Later I saw the video of the event and both had hit the pavement hard. The man behind the gun was mobbed by several people in the crowd in a sea of people. I have no clue what happened to them.



As people gathered and some had prayed, they started to move towards the main square. Tear gas was fired and people moved back, but still persistent to take this to the end. Another police truck was about to blow water guns but it suddenly changed its course as the crowds chanted "selmeyah selmeyah". We moved to take control of the main square and police we standing their ground on most of the entrances and exists of the square. We stayed there and chanted the same slogans again. People started to gather from other places and those who were held back earlier and the numbers started rising.

After a while tear gas started falling again. People were running away and then back again. It was irritating and people tried to cover their faces with something against the gas. The tear gas soon stopped. As night started to fall we prayed Maghrib prayer, and then tear gas started to fall again pushing us back but still in the square. We soon gained control of the main square again.

As time passed people started to take comfort and people were started to say that they will stay in the square in a sit in. They started to organise and collect money to buy supplies for staying the night. I was talking with the people that I knew about "an exit strategy", is there one once we have settled here? couldn't come to some plan amongst ourselves. I had not expected this to go that long and decided to leave with a friend to come back later with some supplies of food and water. I took the subway back home and agreed with Mohamed to meet again around 9:30pm.