Queens Gazette

Egyptians Of Astoria Rejoice





Egyptian Americans celebrate in the middle of Steinway Street immediately after hearing about the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 11. The announcement was made from Cairo during evening prayer.

Egyptian Americans celebrate in the middle of Steinway Street immediately after hearing about the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 11. The announcement was made from Cairo during evening prayer.

BY JASON D. ANTOS

The resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 11, set off a shockwave of celebration and jubilee felt not only on the streets of Cairo and Tahrir Square but on the streets of Astoria as well.

Egyptian immigrants packed the local cafes, restaurants and hookah lounges of the “Little Egypt” community along Steinway Street anxiously awaiting any new updates about their country’s revolution. Within minutes after the announcement was made via CNN and Satellite television, hundreds poured out onto Steinway Street waving flags and singing songs. As the crowd swelled, police closed off northbound traffic for a two-block radius in order to allow people to demonstrate. Cries of “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great), “Egypt is Free” and “Mubarak Go To Hell” were popular sound bites of the cheering supporters of the victorious Egyptian uprising.

“I am used to seeing this kind of celebration after a soccer game,” one young lady said. “But this is much more exciting.”

Local business owners led the march waving peace signs while others got down on their knees and gave thanks to God for the end of Mubarak’s 30 year reign.

“I am very happy and proud because what happened today,” one man said. “We have been waiting for this for a long time. But thanks be to God that this happened. Thanks to God.”

The celebration continued into the night with the police coordinating crowd control. Mubarak became president of Egypt on October 14, 1981 after the assassination of Anwar El Sadat. He had been appointed vice-president in 1975. During demonstrations that began on January 25, protesters called for his resignation as president of Egypt. In the end, more than 100 protesters died. On February 1, Mubarak announced that he would not seek another term in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election. On February 11, vice-president Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned as president and transferred authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. As of February 13, the Egyptian military, heeding protester demands, dissolved the Egyptian parliament.

Current reports from Egypt say that Mubarak might be in declining health.

In the words of the celebrating Egyptian masses on Steinway Street, “From the Nile to the sea, Egypt is free.”


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