By Bill Sorem
More than 200 hearty Minnesotans of Egyptian descent joined their neighbors in a rally on the windy steps of the Minnesota State Capitol today. They added their voices to the hundreds, if not thousands, of demonstrations around the world in support of the people in Egypt calling for their leader of 30 years, Hosni Mubarek, to step down.
There have been actions in the past, but this is by far the most serious and the most extensive revolt demanding his departure.
The 80 million people in Egypt represent the cultural center of the Arab world so this movement has ramifications from Morocco to Oman. There are similar signs in other Arab countries, a 23 day revolt in Tunisia ended the 23 rule of Zine El Abedine Ben Ali. Some describe this as the, “Arab’s Berlin Wall Falling.”
So far, President Mubarek has replaced the vice president but the protesters say that isn’t enough. The actions occurring in the Arab world, some 358 million people could dramatically affect US Policy and even affect the Israeli-Palestine situation.
Related story from Friday, Jan 28 TC Daily Planet
