Suburban demonstrations and handmade signs show that democracy movement is organic

Outside central Cairo, life is coming back more to normal although traffic is still sparse. In the area I was (near the airport), there were small anti-Mubarak and small pro-Mubarak demonstrations/processions with the balance of numbers definitely on the anti-Mubarak side.  

 

The streets, apart from the protests, remain filled with political discourse and discussion.  People who haven’t been able to talk for 35 years have a lot to say!

 

The internet cafe where I am sitting is in an alley just off Talat Harb between Tahrir and Talat Harb Squares — right between the anti- and pro- forces.  The owner is standing guard outside with the shutters half pulled down because he is fearful of pro-Mubarak thugs creating a fight.  Closer to the demonstration in Tahrir, there are civilian-manned checkpoints searching people for weapons.  There have been several incidents of thugs trying to infiltrate the square with weapons.  

Mubarak’s speech saying he will not resign, but will make some constitutional changes and will not run again has upped the ante.  Protesters in Tahrir Square  were outraged and told me it was an insult to the Egyptian people.  Now, for example, someone from the Popular Committee for Change told me it is no longer enough for Mubarak to go into exile.  He must be tried and held accountable for the 500+ deaths of demonstrators.  Others felt his speech was to create a split in the united front demanding regime change.  

Of course people are tired of the disruption — no money, no fuel, no work, no pay, and having to stay up all night guarding their homes — and are eager to bring this to an end. But, the crowd in Tahrir overnight was far larger than usual, and the crowd this morning was much larger and building.  No matter what, a political process has been unleashed in Egypt that will be very difficult to turn back. The smaller demonstrations in the suburbs, the political signs on the windows of cars all point to this. As corroboration is the very observable fact that the anti-Mubarak protest is organic and grassroots. People are sitting in the streets with pieces of cardboard making their own signs and discussing the slogans as they go.  The pro-Mubarak supporters are carrying Egyptian flags and pre-printed signs.   

Now pro-Mubarak protesters have broken  in to Tahrir and have started attacking demonstrators with stones and sticks.  It’s getting very ugly.  This is what the protesters have been fearing for days.