Dear Friends,
You may be able to offer some help to the people of Egypt (and oppressed peoples everywhere) connect to the internet and get their news out to the rest of the world.
For information about solidarity events, protests, and rallies you can (and should) attend, go to http://seda.me/events.html
For people in Egypt, consider reading and signing this petition to bring unity to the movement and define the parameters for democracy: http://shabab-masr.com/
For people OUTSIDE Egypt
Send additions to these lists to @seda_me or egypt[at]seda.me
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To the Honorable [President Obama or your congressman/senator’s name here]:
I am writing to you, as a concerned citizen, to urge you to take immediate action in support of the people of Egypt as they demand their basic human rights to freedom and democracy.
You are no doubt aware of the show of expression happening on the streets of Egyptian cities over the past three days. Demonstrators have staged peaceful protests, exercising their basic right to expression, to demand freedom from an oppressive dictatorial regime. These efforts have been met with violent resistance at the hands of the state security apparatus as the Mubarak government attempts to subdue protestors by force. Furthermore, in anticipation of a countrywide peaceful demonstration scheduled tomorrow for 1:00pm, after Friday prayers, the government has now imposed a full internet blockade extending to all parts of the country. There are now predictions that mobile phone networks and text messaging will also be blocked, such that no information can come out of the country, informing the outside world of the situation on the ground. These actions on the part of the government suggest an extremely concerning scenario in which all information is blocked, allowing security forces to quell protests by any means necessary, including use of extreme force.
Egypt is the second largest foreign recipient of our taxpayer money, billions of dollars annually. This aid from the U.S. has been used to maintain the current dictatorship against the will of its own people. I urge you to exercise the influence of the United States government in Egypt in advance of tomorrow’s events to pressure the Mubarak government to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any violence against its people and to allow the people of Egypt the freedom of expression that they deserve. President Obama stated in his State of the Union address that the support of the U.S. government is with all peoples in their struggle for freedom and democracy. Please live up to those ideals and support the people of Egypt in their struggle.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your city and zip code]