February 11 is truly an auspicious day. After nearly three weeks of nonviolent pro-democracy protests, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned today, bringing a peaceful end to his repressive 30-year reign. The announcement has led to jubilant celebrations throughout Cairo and sent a powerful message to oppressive rulers across the globe. 

This is not the first time such transformative events have happened on February 11 — it was on this day in 1990 that anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela walked out of the Victor Verster Prison in South Africa as a free man. On that day, after 27 years of unjust imprisonment, Mandela delivered a speech to his jubilant supporters that began with these simple words: "I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy, and freedom for all." He closed his speech by reiterating his cherished belief in "the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.'"

Today, I hope Nelson Mandela, now in his nineties and in faltering health, is smiling as he watches the live streaming video from Egypt on this auspicious anniversary. 

Well, you got one. 

Now is the time to celebrate. The most well-organized, committed, passionate, and pro-rights movement in recent history just accomplished what a mere month ago would have seemed impossible — Mubarak is gone. He was forced out by people who were tired of living in fear, tired of not being able to speak out, tired of being denied the human rights they're entitled to.

It's easy to be hyperbolic at a time like this, but it's also true that we're witnessing history. We're entering a new era — a new era of global politics, of activism, of civil rights, and of the Internet. In the coming days, we're going to hear a lot about the impact of the events in Egypt, the role of social media, and the mountain of work that still remains for the Egyptian people to do. But when something of this magnitude happens, it's important to take the time to celebrate. This is a monumental accomplishment and the people involved deserve to take a moment to bask in the glory of accomplishment. 

Not only did the protesters force a brutal and out-of-touch dictator from office, but they did it with nonviolent civil action, an unimaginable amount of passion, and sheer guts. If that's not revolutionary, I don't know what is.

Watch the celebration in Tahrir (Liberation) Square live on Al Jazeera English.
Read more about the uprising and Mubarak's resignation.

Last night, in a symbolic gesture of support for the people of Egypt, the Senate passed a resolution put forth by John Kerry and John McCain that "ensures that the United States assistance to the Egyptian Government, military, and people will advance the goal of ensuring the respect for the universal rights of the Egyptian people."

In support of the millions of peaceful protesters calling for new government leadership, the Senate's resolution, among other things, calls for President Mubarak to begin transitioning immediately and for the government and the military to protect the rights of its citizens. 

While this is not binding legislation, it is a power gesture of support to the crowds of protesters amassing in Cairo today for what they are calling the "Friday of Departure," which marks the 11th day of demonstrations in Egypt. This resolution recognizes the right of the people of Egypt to have a "representative and responsive democratic government" that protects their civil liberties. It also condemns any violent actions made against protesters.   

Many activists in the United States have wondered how their actions can make a difference for the people of Egypt — this is one way. The support that you have shown for the people of Egypt made it necessary for our Senate to act. We urge you to continue to show your support and stand eye to eye with the people of Egypt.

Read more about the resolution on the Library of Congress website.

Along with so many others, I've been riveted by the coverage of the mass protests in Egypt and horrified by the crackdown on human rights exhibited there even over the past week. But to be honest, I haven't been quite sure why it is all happening. I've had a vague idea that the people of Egypt have been oppressed and denied their full measure of rights, but if you asked me for specific examples, I might only be able to name what I've seen of the lack of free speech and open communication channels.

This morning on my way to work, though, I got the Egypt 101 course courtesy of the Breakdown, a weekly podcast with Chris Hayes from the Nation. In the most recent special edition of the Breakdown, "Why Is Egypt in Revolt?" Hayes speaks with professor of twentieth-century Egyptian history Noor Khan from Colgate University about the context of the protests in Egypt.

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Khan has also written a short — and incredibly informative — primer on Egypt now. It lays out clearly the modern historical background and the many manifestations of oppression that the people of Egypt have endured.

So, why are the people protesting? As Khan lays it out:

• "Democracy" has been just a word
• Police torture (see "We are all Khaled Said" on Facebook for more)
• Corruption
• Bureaucratic inefficiency
• Poverty

There is so much background, detail, and nuance to each of these — but it's good to have a first step toward understanding on a new level why the people of Egypt are out on the streets, raising their voices and asserting their rights. 

Further background:

• "'Work on Him Until He Confesses': Impunity for Torture in Egypt," a Human Rights Watch report
• "It's More Than Mubarak: The Legacy of Torture in Egypt," by Carolyn Barnett, Policymic.com

"What would you do if someone hit you, kicked you, or spit on you?" 

This was one of the questions that trainers asked protesters as they prepared for protests in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965 — "Bloody Sunday." They had to ask this because they knew what they would be facing — billy clubs, beatings, and tear gas — as they marched from Selma to Montgomery to demand the right to vote. 

As I watched a video of anti-Mubarak protesters in Egypt praying as water cannons and tear gas were shot at them, I could not help but think of the iconic footage of the civil-rights movement — 600 marchers trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, confronted by the brutality of local lawmen.

The practice of nonviolent resistance was not used because it is easy; it was used because it is an effective tactic. The organizers of the civil-rights movement in the United States knew that violence would divert them from their political goal and that their non-retaliatory actions would accrue support from participants and the society at large. The organizers also knew that the effectiveness of their nonviolent actions would incite more violence by those in power as they began to see the inevitability of political change in this country.

Those protesting the current political structure in Egypt are standing at a similar precipice. Mubarak supporters have begun throwing Molotov cocktails and riding through crowds on horse- and camelback armed with whips and sticks. They know that the political tide is turning against them and that the world is standing in solidarity with the peaceful protesters.

So the question again is, "What will you do in the face of violence?" Honestly, I am not sure what I would do. What I do know is that nonviolence is an effective tactic for political change — political change that the people of Egypt deserve.

With funding and support from UUSC, Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA) translated into Arabic The Montgomery Story [PDF], a 1958 comic book about the U.S. civil-rights movement and nonviolence. Referring to the protests in Egypt, Nasser Weddady of HAMSA recently told UUSC, "This is their Birmingham; this is their own civil-rights movement." As this struggle continues to escalate, we know that it will not be won without sacrifice and loss — but it is a fight that they will win.

To the protestors in Egypt: please do not let those who do seek to oppress you steer you from your path of nonviolent protest. 

"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals." —Martin Luther King Jr.

واللاعنف هي قوى وعادلة دون قطع السلاح الذي جرح رجل كان وجودا حيث. فمن يداوي سيفا.  —Martin Luther King Jr.

As you stand strong, we stand in solidarity with you. 

Much has been made about the role of social media in the recent political uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere across the Middle East and North Africa. But it's important to remember that, while these are powerful tools for messaging, organizing, and sending out information, they must be backed up by people willing to do the hard work of standing up for their rights. 

It wasn't a tweet that began the mass protests in Tunisia, is was a young man who tragically took his own life in protest over the abysmal economic and political restrictions in his country that left him feeling trapped, with no other way to express his discontent other than self-immolation. It was that act that sparked what had been smoldering for decades amongst people who longed to live free of oppression and fear and have a say in the role of government in their lives. People began taking to the streets out of their own sense of righteousness — not because something was trending on Twitter.

But it is also true that the Internet has provided a pivotal role in these uprisings. Without Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube capturing the words and images of the street protests, the rest of the world may not have understood so easily the scope of the protests.  Without an Internet connection, how many people would have been able to see the now-famous images of peaceful protesters being met with water cannons and tanks on the Qasr al-Nil Bridge? 

Social media is a powerful tool for activists, but it is not the only tool. The Internet has been shut down in Egypt since last Thursday, yet the protesters' efforts only continue to grow. The question now becomes: how can we continue to use these tools in new and effective ways to ensure that those who have worked so hard for positive change are able to finally achieve their goals?

Check out these related news items:

• Nasser Weddady, from UUSC partner the Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance, discusses the role of social media in the Egyptian uprisings (CNN video).
• Google creates Twitter workaround to enable Egyptians to post (Reuters).

The work of the Civil Liberties unit focuses on protecting the rights of women and activists in the Middle East as well as combating racial and religious profiling of Muslims in the United States. On Human Rights Day, we offer you updates on some of our exciting work with partners around the world.

Barakat

UUSC partner Barakat conducted nine rights training workshop for teachers in Afghanistan. The focus of the workshops is to train teachers on the rights of citizens in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women, and help them to engage their students on the issue of human rights in the classroom. The success of this program has led to an increasing demand from the government of Afghanistan to expand these workshops to reach a greater number of government schools and departments of education.

HAMSA

Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance is engaging in groundbreaking dialogue sessions that address issues of faith, civil rights, and freedom of speech. In Cairo, HAMSA led student activists through training sessions on debating and public discourse in order to give these young reformers the tools to address civil-rights challenges through open and respectful dialogue and to celebrate persuasion, rather than violence, as an ideal method for shaping social attitudes and changing public policy.  Students prepared and participated in a live debate that was broadcast on local Cairo radio station, Radio Hortyna.

Building Bridges

Anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate speech in the United States is the highest and most vitriolic since 9/11. The conflation of all Muslims with terrorists is a dangerous and false assumption and threatens the foundations of religious freedoms and civil protections that make up this country's foundations. Two years ago, UUSC created the Building Bridges project in order to combat the negative stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs in the United States and to create a model that local citizens could apply in their own towns and cities. UUSC has teamed up with local Unitarian Universalist congregations to combat this distressing trend and reach out to our Muslim brothers and sisters to change the climate of fear and prejudice. This spring in Seattle, we will host our fourth Building Bridges workshop with local area UU and Muslim organizations.

Who says human rights can't be fun? This weekend, UUSC partner Hands Across the Mideast Alliance is hosting their annual East Meets West benefit to support their annual Human Rights Film Festival in Cairo, Egypt, which is wrapping up this weekend. 

HAMSA is on the cutting edge of the civil-rights movement in the Middle East, and the Cairo Film Festival is a cornerstone program and the first film festival of its kind in the Middle East. Dalia Ziada, director of HAMSA's Cairo office says, "The festival aims to highlight international human-rights issues and build understanding between cultures. Many of the films focus outside the Arab world, exposing Egyptian audiences to issues we do not hear about often the news."

Tickets are currently on sale for Boston-area residents — buy your tickets in advance, because they're expected to sell out at the door. And RSVP on their Facebook event page!

See you at Club Café at 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11!

As the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) details in a recent press release, in his upcoming memoir, Decision Points, former President George W. Bush claims that he said "damn right" when the CIA asked for permission to torture Khalid Sheikh Mohammed by waterboarding him. He also admitted to authorizing waterboarding for other "senior al Qaeda leaders."

Waterboarding is torture. For President Bush to reveal his involvement in such activities puts him in clear violation of U.S. and international law that makes torture an illegal and immoral act.

The following NRCAT press release lays it out:

"Former President Bush should be ashamed of his decision to torture detainees," said Rev. Richard L. Killmer, executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a UUSC Civil Liberties partner. "His decision to allow the use of torture was both illegal and immoral. And his excuse that the use of waterboarding 'saved lives' is wholly inadequate and unjustifiable. U.S.-sponsored torture has cost innumerable lives of both American soldiers and civilians, because it has inspired extremists to commit acts of terror against us. It has cost us dearly. Torture does not make us safer; it makes us more of a target."

In 1999 the United States government submitted its statement on the use of torture to the United Nations as part of its duty under the Convention Against Torture. Here's what the United States government said at that time:

"Torture is prohibited by law throughout the United States. It is categorically denounced as a matter of policy and as a tool of state authority. Every act constituting torture under the Convention constitutes a criminal offence under the law of the United States. No official of the Government, federal, state or local, civilian or military, is authorized to commit or to instruct anyone else to commit torture. Nor may any official condone or tolerate torture in any form. No exceptional circumstances may be invoked as a justification of torture. United States law contains no provision permitting otherwise prohibited acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to be employed on grounds of exigent circumstances (for example, during a 'state of public emergency') or on orders from a superior officer or public authority, and the protective mechanisms of an independent judiciary are not subject to suspension. The United States is committed to the full and effective implementation of its obligations under the Convention throughout its territory."

"Former President Bush has admitted to ordering the use of torture. In doing so he has violated U.S. law and international law. We must establish a Commission of Inquiry that fully investigates all aspects of the use of torture by the United States to ensure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again," said Rev. Killmer.

If you'd like to know more about the work that NRCAT is doing, please contact NRCAT's John Humphries at jhumphries@nrcat.org or me, Anna Bartlett, here at UUSC.

And want to take action? Write a letter to the editor!

In the days since UUSC posted its statement of support for New York City Mayor Bloomberg and the unanimous vote of the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the Cordoba House to move forward, we've had a lot of constructive dialogue with members who feel strongly either in equal amounts of support or opposition. The debate continues on our Facebook page and throughout the blogosphere and other news and opinion outlets.

I am proud to work for an organization that sees this issue for what it is: defending the rights that make up the fabric of our nation.

One of the arguments consistently made against the Cordoba House is that a majority of people are against a mosque at this particular spot. If we've learned anything from Judge Walker's recent ruling for gay rights in striking down Prop 8 and ensuring equality for LGBT Californians, it's that inherent rights should not be subject to a popular vote. Minorities must be afforded protection of the law, in effect to say, "We will not trample your rights simply because we do not believe as you do or practice as you do." If the Bill of Rights is our touchstone, then freedom of worship and freedom to assemble must not be undermined.

Another argument given: "This will open old wounds, so why does it have to be here of all places?" But if not here, then where is it acceptable? Should the Constitution now stipulate that freedom of religion is valid only in certain geographical places and available only to certain faiths? History is littered with examples of marginalized groups being ghettoized, restricted to their own corner of the world by those who hold power, which only leads to an "us" and "them" mentality — but never a "we." Until people's worldview of "there" becomes and includes "here too," we'll never reach the lofty goal we all repeated as schoolchildren: "one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Surely there's a space for prayer and peace two blocks away from the former World Trade Center site.

What happens when we collectively buy into the divisiveness? Its ugliness spreads: mosques are protested, even violently, in Tennessee, California, Kentucky, Wisconsin,  Illinois, and elsewhere. Stephen Salisbury, writing on Alternet, skillfully gets to the heart of the matter: "The mosque controversy is not really about a mosque at all; it's about the presence of Muslims in America, and the free-floating anxiety and fear that now dominate the nation's psyche." So we come to find that the xenophobic politicians who would exploit people's fears are the only terrorists to be found in this equation. And again, William Saletan echoes in Slate: "This is the real argument behind the campaign against the New York community center: It's Muslim, it's big, and it's too close to where a bunch of Muslims killed a bunch of us." Or in Newt Gingrich's words, there should be no mosque in lower Manhattan "so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia." Again, it's us versus them, here and there.

Which brings us to Mayor Bloomberg's eloquent leadership, when he put on notice all those who would wrap themselves in the patriotic cloak of supporting 9/11 victims to justify their prejudice:

"On September 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked 'What God do you pray to?' 'What beliefs do you hold?' . . . We do not honor their lives by denying the very Constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights — and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked."

And last, so that we can all take a breath and pause from all the contention — and since I am a huge comics geek — I'll add that even Superman, the symbol for "truth, justice, and the American way," shares this worldview: "It's only when over there becomes here that we can stop this once and for all."

Please join with UUSC, stand up for human rights, and let's build bridges so that "here" can come to meet, and include, "there."