Protesters flocked to Tahrir Square on Tuesday, as several marches converged. A stage was set up on which people led chants and gave speeches while a near-continuous stream of marches and unaffiliated protesters flooded the square.
Overnight clashes around the square had largely died down by the morning. A field doctor, Tamer El-Nahas said there were many cases of injuries overnight. “Today [Tuesday] has been relatively quiet,” he said, speculating that there would not be any significant clash between security forces and protesters, so long as there were thousands of people present.
A member of Al-Dostour party said that he and his party demanded President Mohamed Morsy withdraw his controversial constitutional declaration, “which is tantamount to a dictatorship,” he said.
“How can we call him President when he has the power of a dictator,” said Om Mena, a protester. “We demand he withdraws the decree immediately,” she continued.
By 4pm several marches were still converging in the square. The Wafd party march approached the square brandishing their flags, but quickly lowered them at the request of the podium speakers who called for only Egyptian flags to be raised in the square.
“[Gamal Abdel] Nasser had warned us,” a chant led by the farmers’ union march began. “Do not trust the [Muslim] Brotherhood.”
Speakers on the stage led chants against the president, calling for the downfall of the regime.
The atmosphere in Tahrir was calm, and security forces were nowhere to be seen. “They are behind the walls,” a 14 year old protester with a Guy Fawkes mask said.
By 5 pm, numbers in Tahrir had swelled to tens of thousands, and on the arrival of the largest marches from Shubra, Zamalek and Mustafa Mahmoud Square, Tahrir protesters numbers was estimated to be hundreds of thousands. Lawyers, judges and journalists are among those who are protesting the president’s decision.
The Muslim Brotherhood said via their Twitter account that the “low protester turnout today [Tuesday] indicates a lack of support among Egyptians,” but nevertheless supports peaceful protests and strong opposition.
