This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
Yesterday I went to Tahrir Square (Liberation Square) twice, the first time was in the morning, before the resignation of Mubarak, which was right after his last speech the night before.
Egyptian blogger and singer, Nadya Shanab, wrote here how the speech and the Army's announcement that followed toyed with people's emotions.
Almost an hour late, Mubarak started his speech. He was not stepping down. The crowd was furious. They all booed and held up their shoes and chanted their demand for him to leave. Everyone felt deceived.
This morning the Army released a second announcement, stating that they would be siding with Mubarak to implement the changes to the constitution that he agreed to do based on the people's demands and to ensure that free and fair elections take place in September.
Disappointment was one of keywords that could describe how everyone felt after the speech. Raafatology wrote about the speech and how it wasn't any different from Mubarak's previous speeches. Each time people expected him to say something and he announces something else.
Mubarak apologized for the people he had killed, but not for the people he is going to kill by choosing to stay in office.
He then wondered if Mubarak was just playing with one of his final cards.
It seems that Amr Ezzat has read Raafatology's question and decided to answer his question in his own blog.
بعد منتصف الليل، وخطاب مبارك المثير للشفقة أكثر من الإحباط، امتلأ ميدان التحرير عن آخره بشرا وغضبا. كان تقديرنا مبالغا لما تبقى من كرامة مبارك وتقديره للأمور، كنا نظنها تكفي لكي يستسلم لحقيقة أن له لم يعد الاستمرار ممكنا ويكفي هذا.
مبارك يرفض الاستسلام للحقيقة ولكنه ينحني أكثر فأكثر أمام الشارع، إذن: إلى الشارع
After midnight, and after Mubarak's speech, that was more pathetic than disappointing, Tahrir Square was totally full of people and rage. We had over expectations for Mubarak's remaining dignity and ability to see how things are going on around him, we thought he had minimal dignity and wisdom to give in and accept the fact that he cannot stay any longer. Mubarak refuses to give in, but he's kneeling to the demands of the streets more and more: so let's stay in the streets then.
Tahrir Square was really full as Amr expected, but people were as silent as they've never been before. I stayed there for a while then I decided to go back home. On my way back, I passed by Maspiro. There were a few people demonstrating there. I felt their disappointment, but also I was sure that they will not stop till they achieve their goals and topple the regime. Later on, on my way to home, I heard the news coming from one of the radios nearby, Mubarak was finally forced to step down. I still couldn't believe it. I rushed to my home and tuned to as much news channels, tweets, and blogs as I could.
The Egyptian people celebrating in Tahrir Square after they forced Mubarak to step down.
Photo taken by Ramy Raoof under Creative Commons license
Happiness was everywhere in the Egyptian blogosphere, but each one decided to express his happiness his own way. Some like, Egyptian-Wish, were proud of what they've done, and looking forward to the future.
في رفع الظلم عن بلدي
يا رب ما فيش مصري يتسجن تاني علشان رأيه
يا رب ما فيش مصري يضرب في قسم بوليس
يا رب مافيش مصري يتاخد حقه بالغصب
يارب خلينا نعمل حكومة تبقي في خدمتنا ومش فوقنا
I hope no more Egyptians will be imprisoned for their thoughts
I hope no more Egyptians will be tortured in police stations
I hope no more Egyptians will loose their rights
I am looking for a government that should be in our service, and not to be in its service.
Some others like Zeinobia were speechless.
The true heroes are our martyrs who brought down Mubarak , who purified us from fear , silence and hypocrisy with their pure blood.
Some like Mohaly, and despite the torture and corruption, were sure that their dream will come true someday.
And some others like Raafatology still cannot believe it.
Later on, I decided that to go to Tahrir Square for the second time in row, but this time to celebrate with the people there. From the moment I stepped out of my home I realized that I don't have to wait till I reach the square to see the celebrations, as I can see them right in front of my house that is kilometres away from the square. All the way till I arrived to Tahrir Square people were chanting, dancing, and waving their flags. In the past decades the only thing that brought people to celebrate in the streets was football matches, but yesterday way more people were in the streets, way more happier, and celebration for a reason way more important than a football match.
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
