FLINT As thousands risk their lives to protest for democracy in Egypt, a group rallied
outside the University of Michigan-Flint Sunday afternoon.
The group encouraged their loved ones in the Middle East to stay strong
in the Egyptian revolution to join the Free World.
"We're trying to call them and one minute it's working, one minute it's not and
all our family members are out there participating in these demonstrations.
They're getting hurt, they're getting injured," said Mona Helmy, who was rallying
in support of Egypt Revolution.
"Finally got in contact with my brother. They're staying in the streets trying
to protect their houses and their kids because there is no police," said
protestor Osama Elsabagh, who has family in Egypt.
"I'm worried, but I'd be worried more if they didn't do what they're supposed to
do," said supporter Ayman Khafagi, who also has family in Egypt. "I actually called
my dad and told him, 'Make me and your grandson proud, you have to take it to the
streets.' It's kind of a dream coming true that people crossed that fear barrier
and protest peacefully."
"It's great for Flint because it shows the people in Flint that there are people
here from Egypt trying to represent those people trying to get these rights,"
said supporter Ahmed Karrar.
"These people have not lived with freedom. The basic rights that we have in the
U.S., they don't have over there. And we've been under that for 5,000 years,"
Helmy said.
"We want rights for the Christians, for the Muslims, for the Jews, for
everybody," Elsabagh said. "When there's no democracy, there's no justice."
Some who attended Sunday's rally said they plan on holding a rally with
people of all ethnic backgrounds in Dearborn. Another rally for Egyptian
democracy will be held in Flint on Friday.
