ABSTRACT
On 24 November 2011, about one hundred women gathered in front of the Cairo Opera House and marched through Qasr al-Nil to Tahrir Square. The most recurrent slogans appearing on their posters were ‘Lā līl-‘Unf’ (No violence) and ‘La lil-Ghāz’ (No [Tear] Gas). The relatively small (yet resolute) cohort ran the gauntlet of the violent repression exercised by the army against the youth, who, on 19 November, had started the protest in Muhammad Mahmūd Street (today known also as Martyrs’ Street). The call to join the march was passed by word of mouth and reached the author's inbox on 24 November 2011 through the following email:
> Egyptian Women Take a Stand Today!
> Today, November 24, 2011 @ 4 PM in front of Opera House, Kasr El Nil side:
> Egyptian women against excessive use of harmful gases that will have long term side effects.
> We are all outraged at putting lives at risk
> We, as mothers, daughters, sisters, wives & grandmothers, have the right to be heard.
> STOP THE GAS
> Join us today in protest for the sake of solidarity for our beloved Egypt.
