Today's Tahrir Square Protest Images Look an Awful Lot Like the Arab Spring

An anti-Mursi protester runs to throw a tear gas canister back during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012.
REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Dashiell Bennett 690 Views Nov 27, 2012

Tuesday brought yet another day of protest to Cairo's Tahrir Square, as Egyptians continue to fight back against President Mohamed Morsi's attempt to seize more power for his office. More than 10,000 marchers have reportedly descended on the square — and with many more on the way, as the demonstrations are expected to grow throughout the night. The main thrust has been opponents of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood party who are still upset over a weekend decree that grants the president immunity from the nation's judicial branch. However, the Morsi demonstrations have also merged with another protest, one that's been brewing for nine days now between police and rioters demonstrating over the anniversary of clashes that led to several death in the same area.

In many way, the images from today are reminiscent of the protests from 2011 that became the hallmark of the Arab Spring and led to the downfall of Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. A tent city has been erected in the center of Tahrir to support round-the-clock marches, sign waving, and also rock- and tear-gas exchanges with police. Chants of "Leave, Leave" and "The people want the regime to fall" have echoed throughout the day—the same thing the people chanted at Mubarak nearly two years ago.

Again, the protests are expected to grown larger this evening, as people head to the city center to join the marches after their work day ends, but here's the long day so far, in pictures:

Anti-Mursi protesters chant anti-government and anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans as they gather at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. (REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih)

Egyptian security forces arrest a protester during clashes near Tahrir square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)

Anti-Mursi protesters carry a man affected by tear gas during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)

A masked Egyptian protester takes cover during clashes with security forces near Tahrir square, where an opposition rally has been called for to voice rejection of President Morsi's seizure of near absolute powers, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)

Egyptian protesters run for cover during clashes with security forces near Tahrir square, where an opposition rally has been called for to voice rejection of President Morsi's seizure of near absolute powers, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)

An anti-Mursi protester throws stones during clashes with riot police at Tahrir square in Cairo November 27, 2012. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)

A protester is pictured during the clashes with riot police at Tahrir square in Cairo November 26, 2012. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)

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