Despite the rain and the near-freezing temperatures, Egyptians and supporters gathered on the corner of Gorman Street and Western Boulevard Friday afternoon to publicly display their disdain for the current Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The group included members of the Raleigh and Cary communities as well as N.C. State students. 

Mohammad Hassan, a graduate student in chemical engineering, participated in the protest, but said he was unable to participate in the protest in the Brickyard on Thursday.

“We’re just trying to stand up for justice and peace for an area where human rights have been violated,” Hassan said.

Hassan and the group said they plan to protest the Egyptian crisis for as long as they feel they need too.

“As long as [Mubark] is in power, we will protest,” Hassan said.

Hesham Soleiman, a resident of Cary, participated in the protests as well.  He said he wrote most of the chants the group used.

“I wrote some stuff and sent it out.  It’s been used in Washington, D.C. and all over the place,” Soleiman said.   “I’m leaving tomorrow to go to Washington, D.C. to protest.”

Not all the protestors were of Egyptian descent.  Marc Conaghan, a Scottish-American who lives in Cary, joined the group.

“You see Egyptians protesting on the side of the road, why should Americans not stand with them,” Conaghan said.

Some of the protestors were in Washington D.C. last weekend showing their contempt for the U.S. government’s response to the Egyptian people’s rallies.