Students gathered in the pedestrian mall amphitheatre to support the current democratic movement in Egypt.
TNJN/Elkins, Kevan
TNJN/Elkins, Kevan
Students gathered in the pedestrian mall amphitheatre to support the current democratic movement in Egypt.By Bethany Ross
By Miriam Kramer
More than 100 people gathered at the Humanities Amphitheater on Monday for a demonstration supporting peace and democracy in the Middle East. The event was organized by The Muslim Student Association, the department of religious studies, Amnesty International, University of Tennessee Model United Nations, Jazz for Justice, and the Community Partnerships Service Corps.
The idea for the event came to Will Davis, John McCullum and Eric Dixon about a week and a half ago during trivia night at Barley’s in the Old City.
“What we want to make sure is that we’re not making it just for Egypt. This event is for all movements occurring throughout the middle east, all movements that are sparking in Jordan, Yemen, and Egypt. These peoples have started movements and as global citizens we feel we have an obligation to support freedom and justice everywhere,” said Dixon, a sophomore in philosophy and member of the Community Partnerships Service Corps.
“We don’t want to push any political agenda, we don’t want to push any specific issue, but we do want to make sure everyone is civil today and everyone is respectful while we rally for democracy and civil rights throughout the middle east,” Dixon said.
“Some of the things have just been shocking to see on al-Jazeera, the BBC and CNN,” said John McCollum, senior in global studies. “This is such an important event going on in the Middle East that we wanted to get people in our local area excited and involved.”
Amer went on to tell the story of Mohamad Mouazizi, a Tunisian man who set himself on fire in late December after he was beaten by the police.
“In an attempt to pull in whatever income he could, he sold fruits and vegetables from a cart in the market. Because he had no license to sell these goods, the government and police officials took away his card. Instead of helping him get the license he needed, they took away his only source of income, leaving him with no way to support his family. Seeing no way to support himself under his government’s regime, he set himself on fire. The match that he lit upon himself sparked a revolution throughout Tunisia and other middle eastern countries soon followed suit,” explained Amer.
For the past several weeks, uprisings of people have centered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. The people are demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak who has been in power since 1981.
“I was born and raised in Egypt, I spent there 25 years of my life,” said Emam Fatah. “In that 25 years, I saw the country’s resources depleted, I saw freedoms taken away. I saw the worst kind of oppression. And, me as a person, I had privilege and opportunity to come here and pursue a better future. But there are 80 million people back in Egypt that are still suffering.”
Jim Harb, a 1968 UT graduate says that despite the violence and upheaval, the Egyptians who are fighting for freedom are living the best days of their lives because of the desire for democracy.
“After so many years of a brutal crackdown on Egyptian society, the Egyptian people have somehow found their courage to lift their heads and fight for freedom and as one. They are daily showing their concern for defending each other. Poets are writing, musicians are playing, and this revolution has brought out the best in the Egyptian people. Millions throughout Egypt: in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Giza, and Port Said and indeed throughout the rest of Egypt have demonstrated to say that enough is enough and now is the time for democracy and the dawn in this storied land,” said Jim Harb, a 1968 UT graduate.
In that 25 years, I saw the country’s resources depleted, I saw freedoms taken away. I saw the worst kind of oppression.Emam Fatah
“They [Egyptians] need the world’s eyes and voice and heart. We have all taken the first step towards global solidarity by showing up here today. But there is still more that we can do. Don’t underestimate the impact of your voice,” said Shareef Amer, UT law student.
Event organizers hope that attendees of the the day’s event will walk away more informed and with a renewed sense of what is happening in the Middle East. Even attendees also lined up to sign a petition at www.change.org demanding that Mubarak step down, rights and freedoms are acknowledged, political prisoners are released, police brutality ends and communication networks are restored.
“We hope they leave with a feeling of solidarity between our community and those in the middle east and a feeling not to be afraid of a shift to democracy in the Middle East, particularly Egypt. Not to fear that, but to understand democracy, freedom, and justice are for everyone and we need to support that,” said Dixon.
Editor: Miriam Kramer
