Activists Quote by Rebecca MacKinnon
“On March 5, 2011, protesters stormed the Egyptian state security headquarters. In real time, activists shared their discoveries on Twitter as they moved through a building that had until recently been one of the Mubarak regime's largest torture facilities.”
About This Quote
Source News: Egyptian protests, March 5 2011, Twitter coverage
Activists used Twitter to broadcast real‑time reports while occupying a former security headquarters, exposing state oppression.
In simple terms: People shared live updates from a seized government building.
Key Takeaway
Leverage social media for instant, on‑the‑ground reporting.
Themes
activism
technology
human rights
media
political change
Mood
urgent
defiant
informed
Type
historical
journalistic
When to use this quote
- protest documentation
- human‑rights advocacy
- online organizing
Key Concepts
digital journalism
citizen reporting
surveillance
state violence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can activists protect their data in hostile environments?
- What responsibilities do platforms have for real‑time reporting?
A Different Perspective
Social media can be censored or blocked, limiting reach.
![“Move over to Egypt. Once again, the [Barack] Obama administration, encouraged by Republicans, toppled [Hosni] Mubarak who had been a reliable ally of the United States, of Israel, and in its place, [Mohamed] Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood came in, a terrorist organization.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/43d/ted-cruz-487_administration_move-over-to-egypt-once-again-the-barack_924371.jpg)
![“Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people who are working on [change] find that very difficult: They've been schooled into thinking you have to come up with the perfect plan in advance. It has become a bit technocratic.” quote by Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d17/duncan-green-20105_activist_some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing_57391.jpg)
