More than 50 people staged a protest yesterday in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, calling for the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak's regime in a copy of the Tunisian uprising. The protesters raised several banners, one of which depicted Mubarak during different stages of his presidency opposite pictures of the five US presidents who held office during that time. Others displayed photos of Khaled Saeed, a young Egyptian man who, rights organizations allege, was killed by police brutality. Several children participated, raising American flags and wearing hats with the colors of the Egyptian flag. A number of Egyptian writers resident in the US also took part, including Mona al-Tahawi. The protesters chanted slogans calling for the toppling of Mubarak and the removal of Egypt's Interior Minister. They also carried banners reading "We have 20 free tickets for Arab rulers to travel to Jeddah," in a clear reference to the Tunisian president's escape to Saudi Arabia on 14 January after being in power for 23 years. The National Association for Change (NAC), who organized the protest, is also planning to stage four protests on Tuesday to coincide with Egypt's ”Day of Anger,” scheduled for 25 January. The 25 January protest in Egypt is being called by several opposition groups and movements. According to a statement by the NAC, the protests will be organized in front of the headquarters of Egypt's permanent delegation to the UN in New York, the second will be held in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, the third in front of the Toronto City Council in Canada, and the fourth in front of the Egyptian Embassy in London. The statement said that the protests seek to put an end to corruption, poverty, unemployment, and torture by the security apparatus. The statement further stated that Egyptians in the US, Canada and Britain--who have different political and religious orientations--will protest, along with Egyptians in Egypt, in order to “condemn Egypt's dictatorship” and to express solidarity with the 25 January protesters. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
