Frustrations turn to joy as news from Cairo hits Metro area Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News
Detroit — Thursday, they cried with outrage. Friday, they had tears of joy.
One day after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak refused to step down, his sudden resignation Friday prompted celebrations among Egyptian-Americans throughout Metro Detroit. Many called it one of the most historic days of their lives.
Sarah Kazem was watching the Al Jazeera network Friday when Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman announced about 10:50 a.m. Detroit time that Mubarak was resigning after more than two weeks of protests and bloodshed.
"I couldn't believe it. I'm freaking out, (and) I'm screaming at the top of my lungs," said Kazem of Troy, a second-generation Egyptian-American and Wayne State University psychology studies graduate. "I was afraid they were going to come back and say, 'Psych! Just kidding!'"Throughout the metro area, residents with ties to Egypt juggled cell phones and laptops, trying to reach relatives and share the news.
"I've been on the phone since 7 a.m.," said Magdy Talaat of Troy, who was born and raised in Cairo. Talaat, a chemical company owner, came to the United States in 1977.
By Friday afternoon, he had received more than 100 e-mails. Like many others, Talaat was disheartened Thursday when Mubarak appeared on state television and announced he was staying in office until September.
Friday, frustration turned to joy.
"I never, never, never dreamed that any of this could happen," said Talaat, the owner of LymTal International Inc. in Lake Orion, a commercial coating company.
Celebrations took center stage Friday night.
In Dearborn, dozens were expected at the Lebanese American Heritage Club for a gathering organized by the Congress of Arab American Organizations in Michigan.
"We are witnessing history in the Arab world, the awakening of the Arab people and the beginning of democracy across the region," said Osama Siblani, spokesman for the group that is an umbrella organization of 40 organizations in southeast Michigan.
In Troy, Amr Massoud shouted Friday over the cheers of about 30 local Egyptian-Americans who took over his New York City Pizza parlor for a private party. Balloons and the Egyptian flag were among the hurried decorations. Back home in Egypt, Massoud said his mother baked cookies she gave to celebrants in the streets.
"My father was an Army officer in Egypt, and I wanted to be like him," said Massoud, 28. "But he is the one who talked me into coming to America 10 years ago for the opportunities, because corruption had taken over Egypt under Mubarak."
Dr. Ahmed Ghanim, a Royal Oak resident and specialist in food supplements, joined the partiers at Massoud's pizza shop. He had returned just two days ago from spending much of the last week with thousands of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
"I had been there for a family vacation and it turned into a once-in-a-lifetime event," Ghanim said. "It was like war there. There was a threat every day that the Army might come to wipe us out and hopes that Mubarak might step down. Now, here I am, having a slice of pizza in celebration."
Like many others, Imam Aly Lela spent much of Friday afternoon trying to call his parents, brothers and sisters in Egypt.
"The phone lines are very busy," Lela said. "It's one of the happiest days of my life. This day will be remembered for centuries to come."
Kazem, who has monitored changes in Egypt on Facebook and other social media sites for years, said Egypt owes a debt of gratitude to young people who helped organize the protests.
"The youth did it," said an excited Kazem, who travels to Cairo to visit her grandparents and other relatives. "We did it!"
A protest rally against Mubarak set for 4 p.m. today in front of Dearborn City Hall is still planned, but now is being billed as a victory celebration.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit on Friday issued a statement saying it hopes Egypt elects a "moderate, secular, democratic government" that maintains Egypt's 30-year peace with Israel.
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