Egypt: Gearing Up for a Second Revolutionary Round

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

Egypt will not sleep tonight in preparation for its Second Day of Anger. Following Mubarak's ousting, many protests took place. However, it has been obvious that the demands raised since the start of the January 25 revolution have mostly not been fulfilled. The turtle steps that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and Cabinet are taking were not up to the level of the promises to protect the revolution and its legitimate demands, hence the calls for the second day of anger at Tahrir Square this Friday.

Although the demands represent the heart and core of the Egyptian revolution, tomorrow's call for a million person march was not widely accepted by many citizens who have been calling for stability, and some political parties like the Muslim Brotherhood which had announced that it would not participate in tomorrow's rally.

However the MB leaders' decision didn't effect the Ikhwan youth, who have decided to participate in the “Second Revolution” as they have done on January 25th.
On Twitter Ąhmed El Mąssry writes:

Brotherhood divided over Friday's protests almasryalyoum.com/en/node/452783 #MB #may27 and #25jan story repeats it self

Meanwhile, many promised to be there. Mostafa El Attar notes [ar]:

إحساسي أن غدا سيكون مولد جديد للثورة..و سيتعلم كل من رفض المشاركة درسا جديدا في التاريخ. #may27 #egypt #tahrir #jan25 #noscaf #MB #salafi

I have a feeling that tomorrow will be the revolution's rebirth. And all those who have refused to participate will learn a new lesson in history

As usual prior to the Egyptian Days of Anger, rumors bubbled to the surface.
Mai Khalil reports:

#akher2esha3a ppl in #Maadi advising each other to go to ATMs and withdraw all the cash they can.yo2sodo eah ya3ny #May27

Latest Rumour: people in Maadi advising each other to go to ATMs and withdraw all the cash they can. What do they mean by that?

 

Also, the day of preparations did not run smoothly, as activists were arrested.
Ganzeer, Aida ElKashef , and NadimX were arrested early this morning for posting a poster that offended the military police. They were released later on the day.

While activists in Cairo were arrested and released, seven activists from Suez were reportedly arrested while preparing for the rally and there is no news about their release yet.

And in a very unexpected move, SCAF issued their 58th Communique which states that although they support the right of peaceful protests, the armed forces will not be in protest locations during the 2nd Day of Anger, and that the revolutionary youth will have to protect the square and protesters.

The night is still relatively young in Cairo the city that never sleeps. Protesters already starting calling for volunteers to protect the entrances and enforce protective measures. Not only that but activists and protesters are apprehensive of their greatest enemy - the hot Egyptian summer, and offer the following advice:

Nada Amin cautions:

@Gsquare86 wear white, caps, sun glasses, drink loads of water and juice, eat before u go. Always have a bottle of water with u!

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

Written by Nermeen Edrees