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Washington DC: 2000 Coptic Christians Rally Outside White House on January 21

On January 21, 2010 on a winter afternoon, over 2000 Coptic Christians rallied, chanted, sang, prayed, and marched outside the White House to get the attention of U.S. President Barack Obama and the American public on the continuing human rights violations of the Copts in Egypt.  They came from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and other parts of America to protest the recent terrorist attack on Copts in Egypt on January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve), with terrorists killing Copts as they left their religious services in Nag Hammadi (near Luxor).   The latest attacks were part of a continuing history of oppression, rape, murder, and forced conversion from Christianity to Islam of the Coptic people and women in Egypt.

January 21, 2010 - Over 1500 rally in front of the White House in the aftermath of the Coptic Christmas eve killings of Copts in Egypt

January 21, 2010 - Over 2000 rally in front of the White House in the aftermath of the Coptic Christmas eve killings of Copts in Egypt

Protesters Line Up Along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House

Protesters Joining the Copts White House Rally

The crowd arrived in different locations from buses, some of which were organized at St. Mark Coptic Church (11911 Braddock RD Fairfax, VA 22030) and St. Mary Coptic Church (8340 Woodward St. Savage, MD 20763). Coptic organizers included Halim Meawad and Magdi Khalil.

With the recent attacks on Copts in November 2009 (in Farshoot and Abou Shousha) and the January 2010 terrorist attack on Copts outside their Mar Yohana church in Nag Hammadi, the Coptic people continue to face deadly persecution in Egypt.  Individuals passed out fliers at the White House rally defying President Mubarak’s claims that “there is no persecution for Copts in Egypt;” the fliers addressed the oppression of Coptic Christians, attacks on churches, the forced “Islamization” and abduction of Coptic girls, and official restrictions on creation of new Christian churches.

One attendee stated that the crowd of Copt supporters was estimated at 2500 people.  It was a large enough crowd that it filled the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House.  We attempted to estimate the moving crowd (which frequently was marching around the area) and concluded it was clearly over 2000 people.  New members to protest continue to join the rally as it was in progress.  Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) was represented among the supporters at the Copts’ White House rally.

More People Kept Coming to the Copt Rally

More People Kept Coming to the Copt Rally

Protesters held signs, crosses, and American flags.  Entire families with their children came to spend the day.

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Signs included messages such as “Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now,” “Save Christians in Egypt,” signs imploring President Obama to recognize their plight, and some signs merely asked the painful question “Why?” regarding the hate-based attacks and oppression on the Copts’ human rights and lives.

Copts Called for "Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now"

Copts Called for "Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now"

In reference to the January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve) terrorist attack, one protester’s sign read “Bloodshed is not what I wanted for Christmas.”

Others held large banners describing the scope of the ongoing human rights violations against the Copts: 161 attacks on Christians and churches, 4500 stores, houses, and churches burned, and 1500 tortured.

Copts Describe Scope of Human Rights Crisis

Copts Describe Scope of Human Rights Crisis in front of the White House (January 21, 2010)

The protesters called for U.S. President Barack Obama to take action, and chanted “Obama, Obama, We Need Action!”

They also chanted to stop the killing of Christians in Egypt, that “Christian Blood is Not Cheap,” and implored the “U.S. [to] Wake Up!”

Protesters lined up and down the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House marched back and forth.

Copts Lining Up on Pennsylvania Avenue in Front of the White House

Copts Lining Up on Pennsylvania Avenue in Front of the White House

Copts Marching in front of the White House

Copts Marching in front of the White House

During the protest at the White House, Coptic supporters sang “Lord Have Mercy,” and prayed.  They protested for freedom of worship for the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Copts Join Together for Moment of Prayer in front of White House

Copts Join Together for Moment of Prayer in front of White House

As the Copts braved the winter day to show their support for their fellow Copts in Egypt, they showed that they would defy the forces of oppression, and that they will not allow the suffering of the Copts to be forgotten by the U.S. government or by the American people.  Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands by the Copts’ struggle for their universal human rights.

Copts Fear No Evil as They Call for Their Universal Human Rights

Copts Fear No Evil as They Call for Their Universal Human Rights

Video of Rally from Free Copts Website

Other Protest Scenes

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Previous R.E.A.L. Postings on Copts

Egypt: US Congress Writes to Egyptian President Mubarak About Coptic Killings

Egypt: Naga Hammadi Copts in mourning

Australia: Thousands Gather in Sydney to Protest Against Copts Persecution

NYC: Thousands of Copts rally in front of the UN to protest the killing of Christians in Egypt

Egypt: HRW calls for release of pro-Coptic groups

Egypt: US State Dept: US concerned at Coptic Christian arrests in Egypt

Egypt: Voice of the Copts Advises Against Egypt Travel

Egypt security court to try suspects in Copt killings

Egypt — AINA reports: “Over 100 Coptic Christian Teenagers Arrested in Egypt”

Egypt Coptic Christians Murdered in Terrorist Attack Outside Church

Egypt — BBC Report: “Egypt’s Coptic Christians battle for ID cards”

Egypt: Bloomberg News Reports on Bias, Oppression of Christian Copts — OIC “too busy” to respond to Bloomberg News questions

American Copts Protest in NYC and LA on Anti-Christian Sectarian Violence in Egypt

Human Rights Day — Voice of the Copts Address and Video

DC Examiner: Protection of religious minorities is major theme of 2009 Human Rights Day News Conference

Epoch Times: “International Human Rights Day — Comments Made At National Press Club”

Egypt: Human Rights Activists Call for Banning Extremist Television Channels

Egypt: Voice of the Copts Open Letter to Coptic Pope

Egypt: Outrage over Swiss vote on minarets, while Egypt oppresses Coptic Christians

Egypt: “Muslim Mob” of 3,000 — Mob Attacks Christian Businesses, Individuals — Rioting Spreads in Upper Egypt

ICC Report: “Religious Freedom Not a US Priority toward Allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia”

Egypt Hosts OIC Conference on “Children’s Rights”

Egypt: 15 Year Old Egyptian Convert to Christianity Sends Plea to Obama — Dina el-Gowhary

Egypt: “The Disappearance, Forced Conversions, and Forced Marriages of Coptic Christian Women in Egypt”

Egyptian Christian Monk Father Aghabeos El-Moharkee Reports Death Threats

Egypt: Christian Coptic Blogger in Egypt Threatens Hunger Strike

Egyptian Security Arrests Several Christians for Praying At Home

Egyptian Christians Fear More Muslim Violence

Egypt: Coptic Blogger in Egypt Pressured to Convert in Prison

Egypt arrests 30 in Muslim-Copt clashes – Muslim residents hurl stones at church construction workers

Egypt: “Coptic Family Forced to Surrender Woman Rescued in Egypt”

Egypt: Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt

“Egyptian Police Arrest Christian Father for Attempting to Free Kidnapped Daughter”

Egypt: Mourners Protest Islamic Attacks on Copts in Egypt

Egyptian Christian’s murder sparks sectarian tension

Egypt: Thousands of Christians Gather to Pray for Equality in Egypt

Egyptian Copts abroad call for national strike in Egypt — on September 11

Voice of Copts report: “Egyptian Regime protecting drug dealers and abusers”

Egyptian Coptic Priest Banned From Village, Under Death Threat — Rev. Estefanos Shehata

“Egypt — Two Copts Imprisoned after Reporting Attack”

Egypt: video links on online videos regarding persecution of Christian Copts in Egypt

Egypt: Report on Christian Copt Churches Attacked

DC: Egyptian Coptic Christians Protest for Human Rights, Equality, as President Obama Meets Mubarak

Coalition of Coptic Organizations Press Release on Need for Peace for Coptic Christians of Egypt

DC: Egyptian Copt Christian Group Holds Press Conference

DC: August 18 White House Protest by Coptic Organizations

Egypt — AINA Report: “Abduction and Forced Islamization of Christian Coptic Girls Continues in Egypt”

Egypt: Report on Increasing Extremist Intolerance to Women, Christians

Egypt: Two Christians Coptic Girls Abducted for “forced Islamization”

Egyptian Christian Father Demands Justice for His Murdered Son

Egypt: Report Christians Attacked, Building Torched for Seeking to Worship

“Egyptian Security Refuses to Return Abducted Christian Coptic Girl”

Egypt’s Christians face fresh attacks and legal battles

Egypt: “Family of Abducted Christian Coptic Teenager Assaulted By Muslim Mob”

Egypt — Convert Woman Arrested for Marrying Christian

end-copt-hate