Egypt: April 6 Youth Take to the Streets, Beaten Back by Police

On the second anniversary of the April 6 protests, dozens of demonstrators marched on downtown Cairo to call for constitutional reforms and fairer presidential elections, with some reports indicating a turnout of over 200. However, much like last year, the pro-democracy reformists were stifled by an overwhelming police presence that preempted a higher level of participation and on-the-ground coordination. Using a variety of violent and coercive measures, security forces swiftly quelled the demonstration and arrested more than 80 activists. One POMED source on the ground in Cairo reports that female protesters were among those most brutally beaten by Egyptian police. Journalists were targeted as well, compelled by the security officers to turn over cameras and recording devices. Over at the Majlis, Gregg Carlstrom catches a report about Egyptian officials locking the gates at Cairo University to prevent students from flowing out into the streets to show their solidarity.

Ayman Nour — a former presidential contender who recently announced [Arabic] his 2011 presidential candidacy — led a contingent of al-Ghad party activists trying to join the April 6 Youth in front of the upper house of Parliament, only to be stopped by state security en route. In a statement to reporters on the scene, he castigated the Mubarak government for violating the “basic human rights of the people,” and insisted that “it is high time that the president makes room for the new generations.”

But the April 6 Youth Movement isn’t the only show in town this week. Amro Hassan from Babylon and Beyond highlights the rather resilient group of physically disabled Egyptian citizens who have camped out in front of parliament for over 50 days in an attempt to pressure the government for better access to employment opportunities and housing.