[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          CONGRATULATING EGYPT

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the valiant, 
heroic, brave people of Egypt who for 18 days took to the streets in 
Tahrir Square and used people power to stand up and to liberate 
themselves. For 18 days, they called on things like governance and to 
have a hand in their own destiny and their own democracy. Human rights, 
bread, dignity, things like that. I was so proud, watching the people 
in Tahrir Square of Egypt stand up and claim their dignity back, and I 
was proud to be able to say that so many Americans stood shoulder to 
shoulder with them.
  I also want to add, Mr. Speaker, that it demonstrated that the people 
of Egypt reject the philosophy of al Qaeda, reject the philosophy of 
extremism, and used nonviolent tactics, tested the world over, to bring 
forth democracy. This is a wonderful testament to people who want 
freedom, justice, and equality to stand together peacefully. And it was 
so good, Mr. Speaker, to see people of multiple faiths--Muslims, 
Christians, other people, Jews--standing together to say, We want a new 
day in Egypt.
  So, Mr. Speaker, again, my hearty congratulations to the people of 
Egypt.

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