| The ‘Second Friday of Anger’ turned out to be the model of a peaceful protest By Kate Durham |
| Compared to the city-wide clashes between police and protesters on January 28, May 27 — dubbed the ‘Second Friday of Anger’ by the online activists who called for the event — seemed more like a carnival than the war zone that marked the most violent day of the January 25 Revolution.Amid high humidity later eased by scattered rain showers, the mood was mostly jovial. Flag-waving activists congregated around the two main stages competing for attention near the Mugamma, as well as at the smaller ones scattered in the direction of the Egyptian Museum. Vendors stationed themselves among the crowds, selling everything from fresh-squeezed orange juice to floppy red, white and black hats leftover from past football tournaments. On the metal security door of KFC, the Revolution Artists Union set up an impromptu gallery and sketched out new works as bystanders watched. The causes were as diverse as the crowd, with banners remembering martyrs, decrying corruption, demanding swifter justice against the Mubarak regime, calling for a “Constitution Now,” and even celebrating the opening of the Rafah border crossing. Nasserists and Salafists circulated through the streets with placards promoting their solution for Egypt’s future. Notably missing was the Muslim Brotherhood, which officially declined to participate because leaders said the group disagreed with many of the protesters’ demands. Also missing were police and military security personnel. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces had announced in an official communique that it would keep its forces away from the protest to avoid “tensions between the Egyptian people and the armed forces,” leading to fears that the event would draw counter-revolutionary attacks. The day progressed peacefully, however, with protesters organizing their own checkpoints and security searches. |
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