CAIRO: Friday marked the 40 day anniversary of the October 9 violence. In a show of massive solidarity, thousands upon thousands of Egyptians marched from the Coptic Hospital in Abbasiay – the same hospital that received the dead and injured in last month's violence – to Tahrir Square, gaining momentum along the way and greeted by bystanders and observers from balconies. In memorium of the 27 people who died during the violence outside of the State TV building, known as Maspero, where the armed forces who were guarding the television headquarters, attacked and ran over Coptic protesters, in the most violent single protest since the fall of the former regime in February. Friday's march was the largest protest in months, a sign of solidarity between Muslims and Christians in the country after weeks of worries over sectarian tension building in Egypt. The Friday March featured a funeral procession with a church chorus in the front and protesters holding pictures of the victims. The march was completely silent and free from any chants, only the sound of the funeral music echoed through the streets. The march was attended by politicians, public figures and priests, including Floupiter Gameel, who said a prayer and gave a short address, demanding that the ruling military council admit to the killing of the protesters in October. The military council, Egypt's highest authority in the transitional period, has denied any wrongdoing and said its force was attacked by “anonymous” parties who “hurled rocks and fired at the armed forces.” Participants praised the organization of the march and the orderly nature, which was called for by Coptic groups including the Maspero Youth Union (MYU). “It was a very civilized and beautiful march,” Mina Thabet, a member of the executive office of the MYU told Bikyamasr.com. “It was a silent and sad march that expressed well how everyone felt and how they anticipate a serious independent investigation in the matter,” Thabet added. BM
