New Momentum?

Christians protect praying muslims in Cairo

Reports suggest that today's protests in Cairo are among the largest yet, spreading to the gates of Parliament and attracting Egyptians that until now have remained on the sidelines. What has brought them out of their homes? The release of a young Google executive, Wael Ghonim has captivated Egypt and potentially brought a face to the "leaderless" revolution. His emotional interview on a private Egyptian satellite channel, where he sobbed over the needless deaths of youth killed in violence and commended the heroism of the protesters who were standing up for their freedoms seems to have touched the hearts of many Egyptians.

"I cried," a 33-year-old upper-class housewife, Fifi Shawqi, said of the interview with Ghonim, who she'd never heard of before the TV appearance. She came to the Tahrir protest for the first time, bringing her three daughters and her sister. "I felt like he is my son and all the youth here are my sons." (AP)

This comes at a time when the government seems determined to hem in the protesters in Tahrir square and drag out any negotiations for "reform" until the public spotlight is gone and public pressure fades away.  The protesters appear ready to seize the opportunity given them by the huge turnout in Cairo, Alexandria, and elsewhere. They have stormed the gates of Parliament to demand it be dissolved and continue to hang tough on their demand that President Mubarak step down.

The energized crowd in Tahrir should not be underestimated. The revolution may have a leader.