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Toppling Dictators with a Lethal Dose of Technology and Nonviolent Action

A revolution in Egypt: 18 days of tumultuous freedom fighting and a dictator is shamefully evicted. Seems straightforward, doesn’t it? It’s not. Egyptians have been working toward this outcome for years, yet the manner in which they achieved their revolution is clear-cut. Risking everything, far too often by dying, Egyptians pushed against the regime to gain the freedom to define democracy for themselves. They battled in the most diplomatic way that exists — in methodical, organized collaboration. Not to mention, with great class. When confronted by what the malicious thugs unleashed upon them, those protesting stood in solidarity. They didn’t fight back with artillery, they fought back with unwavering solidarity.
Over the years, adversity did not diminish the fortitude of those advocating change. Despite Emergency Law, which prohibited Egyptians from aggregating in groups of five people or more and permitting unjust arrested, they continued to organize demonstrations, used digital tools to amplify their stories, and applied methods learned from other effective resistance movements to fuel their engine. As opposition groups worked together to maintain momentum and define the stipulations to cease demonstrations, supporters of a free Egypt used technology to build a global community and lured attention to their urgent plea. Although lines of communication had been compromised, those supporters were well aware of the human rights violations.
The impetus to overthrow Hosni Mubarak is attributed to the triumphant ejection of former President of Tunisia, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and subsequent announcement to protest on January 25, 2011 by the creator of the Facebook page, “We Are All Khaled Said.” The page united thousands of people in the virtual sphere after the brutal murder of Said, who had been beaten to death by Egyptian police for exposing their torturous customs on video. This, of course, attracted the attention of many opposition groups that also joined the virtual community to honor martyrs regardless of their political and religious ideologies. Those groups perpetuated the call to action by inviting others to join tens of thousands planning to flood the streets of Cairo and Alexandria on January 25th. This landmark event was different than other organized protests. This time, the world was watching. As news traveled, demonstrations of support ignited around the globe.
Ahmed Salah, an Egyptian journalist and activist who had survived torture while incarcerated in jail for pushing against the regime, brought his mission to the United States.

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