Solidarity with the Egyptian masses

Newcastle

UP TO 100 protesters gathered at Newcastle students union to demonstrate their solidarity with the Egyptian masses on 4 February. The messages on the banners, both in English and Arabic, were clear: "Mubarak must go".

One of the protesters, Rana Salem, a young woman from Alexandria, said she had waited all her life for this revolution: "People are being killed in Tahrir Square.

"We want the world to know we are standing with our people in Egypt. We want this rotten regime removed as soon as possible - before there is more loss of life.

"This regime has ruled for 30 years, but now we will not tolerate another seven months."

Similar views were expressed by Fatma Soliman who said: "We have suffered under Mubarak's regime for 30 years.

"Look at all the people who have died this week, especially last night when he gave the order to kill unarmed protesters."

Elaine Brunskill

London

SEVERAL HUNDRED people gathered at the US embassy in central London on Saturday 5 February to show solidarity with the revolution in Egypt. After speeches from campaigns such as the Stop the War coalition and Palestinian Solidarity, they marched to the Egyptian embassy.

The big question on everybody's lips was what needs to happen next. Unfortunately none of the speakers offered any way forward.

No-one raised the vital role of the working class and trade unions.

Only Socialist Party leaflets put forward a working class programme, including; calling for immediate and free elections to a revolutionary democratic constituent assembly, and a majority workers' and rural workers' government.

Leeds

AROUND 200 people, mostly from Middle East countries, demonstrated in Leeds on Saturday 5 February in support of the ongoing revolt in Egypt.

As well as some professionally produced placards with vague slogans calling for 'freedom for Egypt', there were more radical hand-made ones. Several called for 'Mubarak Go Now' and another saying: 'We are all Egypt, We are all revolutionaries'.

One placard showed pictures of Mubarak side by side with previous British prime ministers who had supported him, both Tory and Labour.

After the main protest ended, many young protesters gathered to chant slogans calling for the end of the Mubarak regime. One young woman told The Socialist: "We wanted to chant slogans telling Mubarak out now, but we're being told that we have to be polite and chant for 'freedom'.

"But for that to happen Mubarak must go."

Leeds Socialist Party member

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