The breakdown of protest management

Protest Management

by digby


BagNews is featuring a fascinating post about the Egyptian protest showing how up until this recent uprising the protests there were carefully controlled by the government. Here's a photo from last Wednesday, showing how it was usually done:



The photographer, David Degner says:


“What is so significant about the photo from Wednesday is that it possibly represents the last vestige of the old paradigm, of the exploitative tactics with policemen in a circle letting a show of protest go on. As of now, that system is gone. You do have to walk around the tanks to get into Tahrir Square right now, but once you’re in, it’s a free game. You can say anything you want. You can lead chants. It’s completely different.”



.