It was a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon as protesters assembled on the Capital Lawn carrying handwritten signs reading, “Freedom in Egypt” and “We Support Egypt.”
Local residents and organizations held a solidarity rally to express their support for freedom in Cairo.
Anti-government protests, demanding economic and political changes, began in Egypt on Jan. 25.
Since then, tens of thousands of people are filling the streets of Cairo and other cities and have called for President Hosni Mubarak to resign after 30 years in power.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” a famous quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., helps to define one of the many reasons why American protesters are voicing their opinions.
“It should affect us all as Americans because it is what a truly American concept is about putting in a democracy,” said Alla Hadi, an Egyptian-American attending Florida State, whose family, and friends that are worried about what is going on in Egypt.
“We have to voice our support.”
President Obama has issued a plea for restraint in Egypt and called on Mubarak to take steps to democratize his government and refrain from using violence against his people.
“To the people of Egypt, especially the young ones, I want to be clear: we hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will seize your destiny,” said Obama.
“I think the people of Egypt need to have what most people in the world need an honest government, a government that is not abusive and a government that gives you due process and equality before the law,” said Tom Baxter, who braved the weather to show support at the rally.
“If I can do a little bit for justice and peace I’m going to be there.”
Ramsey Sprague, 27, a member of Ride till the End, an organization that rallies and raises awareness for the injustices of people in the United States, wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of Egypt and their calls for Mubarak to step down.
“I’m also calling for the U.S. military to stop with the aid of their government. Until Mubarak steps down and a democratic representative is put into place for their government,” said Sprague.
Thousands of supporters in America have gathered in support for reform in Egypt over the last couple of days.
“When you have revolutions like this one that is going on in Egypt, it causes people all around the world to actually think and engage in their society at a much higher level,” said Sprague.