Medea Benjamin Code Pink reports Tahrir Square in Cairo: "It was ... - San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin on Wednesday launched a dozen Code Pink activists carrying banners in Cairo, Tahrir Square - a scene, they said in a "war zone" as bloodthirsty thugs of the government "...

Medea Benjamin Code Pink reports Tahrir Square in Cairo: "It turned into a war zone .."

Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin on Wednesday launched a dozen Code Pink activists carrying banners in Cairo, Tahrir Square - a scene that is, they descended into a "war zone" bloody "government thugs" have fought pro-democracy demonstrators .

But Benjamin has told us by phone within minutes and that was during the reign of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government now signals "go down kicking and screaming,''the pro-democracy demonstrations are determined and ready to die here. "

We started shortly after midnight Benjamin Egyptian times when they are withdrawn from the disputed site in Cairo - in a country where Internet access is just back after several days of power outage. Benjamin, longtime Bay Area activist, progressive, has been in the area since Monday with Code Pink, and stated that the lack of Internet connection has been frustrating.

But she noticed that she could not stop and Code Pink, which is the square took place on Wednesday, a large banner paraded in both Engligh and Arabic reading: "The world says it is time for Mubarak to do. "

Medea Benjamin in Cairo

The reaction of the Egyptians, she noted, was both exhilarating and heartbreaking. "They clapped and shouted, and they were so happy to see,''she said." They said they were so cut off from the world, they did not know what the media said. That's what this kind of solidarity was important. "

Benjamin told us about events in Cairo over the past 24 hours, eyes were opened and scary - but she said she movement clearly focused on young people under the reign of the late Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak is excited and determined to succeed.

You can see photos of her and Code Pink is in Cairo today. And here is his testimony:

"I'm out of minutes square .... and what I saw today was a nice gathering of people from all over Egypt in Tahrir Square ... Everyone was helping each other and pride for the first time. "

"Today, it became very ugly with government thugs, the rocks came armed with sticks and they are in charge and they created chaos,''she says." We were walking in the street where our hotel, and it was like a war zone. We saw Molotov cocktails and government people were packed all building materials that were there, and ... Throwing objects on the roof. "

"There are a lot of people injured and they were so brave. They say they will not leave and they are ready to die here. It is very serious and very ugly ... the government is ready to go to shows and kicking.''cry

Benjamin message to Americans that the young Egyptian democracy movement back into the political television at home. "We tell them to keep the pressure on Obama in motion by the U.S. government in a way increasingly to the performance of all advisers with them. Government. It must be said that the government people and violence begins. .. cutting funds would send an important message. "

Written by: Carla Marinucci (Email, Twitter) | February 2, 2011 to 14.11 clock

Medea Benjamin Code Pink reports Tahrir Square in Cairo: "It turned into a war zone .."

Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin on Wednesday launched a dozen Code Pink activists carrying banners in Cairo, Tahrir Square - a scene, they said in a "war zone" bloody ...