The mood was calm, almost listless when activists began to trickle onto Mohamed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square on Tuesday. The street still bears the names and images of those killed during the Egyptian uprising of 2011.
People milled and admired the new graffiti that had gone up overnight. Most said they had no idea what to expect from the day.
One of the artists explains to me the significance of the new mural-mocking the army in pink/neon camoflague #Tahrir
Bel Trew - بل ترو
@Beltrew
One of the artists explains to me the significance of the new mural-mocking the army in pink/neon camoflague #Tahrir
The energy picked up by midday, when hundreds filled the street. Banners hung at the entrance to Tahrir said that those supporting the military, the old regime, or the Muslim Brotherhood were not welcome.
In Tahrir, supporters of Egyptian General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held their own rally for those killed in 2011. They said they disagreed with the anti-military protesters and believed Sisi could lead Egypt out of its current deep divisions.
They were a small but vocal crowd, and they accused the anti-military protesters of being "terrorists."
Tensions rose and clashes broke out between the Sisi supporters and the other protesters.
Riot police and security forces stood close by and intervened to disperse the protesters when hundreds entered the fray.
This video shows the police firing tear gas to disperse the clashing protesters.
View this video on YouTube
But by early evening, the Egyptian World Cup Qualifying Soccer match with Ghana distracted many of the protesters, who took a break to watch the game.
Protesting stops on #Tahrir to watch the Egypt vs Ghana World Cup Qualifier. #Mohamedmahmoud #egypt
Cliff Cheney
@cliffcheney
Protesting stops on #Tahrir to watch the Egypt vs Ghana World Cup Qualifier. #Mohamedmahmoud #egypt
It almost felt like someone had called for a half-time break in the clashes.
People transfixed by the Egypt/Ghana World Cup qualifier, screening now in Tahrir
Jared Malsin
@jmalsin
People transfixed by the Egypt/Ghana World Cup qualifier, screening now in Tahrir
By 10 p.m., the game was over. Egypt had lost and the clashes resumed, though it was unclear who was fighting whom. Police fired tear gas into Tahrir to disperse the groups, but many continued fighting on side streets.
The day invigorated some of Egypt's original revolutionary activists, who claimed it signaled a "new wave" of protests to challenge the army's current popularity.
Crowd hold up three fingers against military, MB and 'feloul' (Mubarak regime)
Sharif Kouddous
@sharifkouddous
Crowd hold up three fingers against military, MB and 'feloul' (Mubarak regime)
"This is just the beginning. We are here to show that the revolution is not over," said Mustafa El Hagry, who said he has been taking part in protests in Tahrir since 2011.
Hundreds of anti-Sisi/Morsi protesters in Mohamed Mahmoud and Tahrir. No sign of pro-Sisi or pro-Morsi now.
Jonathan Rashad
@JonathanRashad
Hundreds of anti-Sisi/Morsi protesters in Mohamed Mahmoud and Tahrir. No sign of pro-Sisi or pro-Morsi now.
Others, however, were less optimistic. "There are not many people here, and of those who have come there are divisions — it is confusing," said Bassem Amr, 40, who stood on the sidelines to watch youthful crowd on Mohamed Mahmoud.
On Mohamed Mahmoud now. Roped off area with hundreds chanting A7a Sisi a7a Morsi.
Tamer El-Ghobashy
@TamerELG
On Mohamed Mahmoud now. Roped off area with hundreds chanting A7a Sisi a7a Morsi.
"Most Egyptians do not understand what these groups represent," said Amr. He pointed to a banner proclaiming that supporters of the army, Brotherhood, or old Mubarak regime were not welcome. "OK, so we know what they don't want, but what do they want?"
Banner over the entrance to Mohamed Mahmoud reads “Revolutionaries only- Ikhwan, army, feloul not allowed to enter”
Basil الضبع
@basildabh
Banner over the entrance to Mohamed Mahmoud reads “Revolutionaries only- Ikhwan, army, feloul not allowed to enterâ€
Nabil Bahgat, a photographer who has been following the original Tahrir revolutionary groups for two years said that now was a difficult time for the group.
"This is the chance for a real revolution to rise up, to organize themselves again," he said. "But I haven't seen it yet. People are tired."
Bahgat said he had been motivated to come to the protest when he saw that a monument built by the army and dedicated to those killed during the upheavals in Egypt was defaced less than 10 hours after it had been erected.
The names of the Egyptian ministers who inaugurated the monument had been scratched out. In their place, was the names of those killed.
On top of the monument, a symbolic coffin was placed. "We honor those killed, not the army who did the killing," said Amr.
A symbolic coffin for Mohamed Mahmoud victims is put over the monument in Tahrir after being destroyed.
Jonathan Rashad
@JonathanRashad
A symbolic coffin for Mohamed Mahmoud victims is put over the monument in Tahrir after being destroyed.
