Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Elliott Daniels - TRNS Special Correspondent

Nearly 2,500 people gathered in front of the White House and the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C. today to protest the violent abuse of the Coptic Christian community in Egypt. Though fueled by a long history of abuse and marginalization, the demonstration was sparked largely by the murder of seven Christians who were gunned down as they were leaving a Christmas church service in Egypt on January 7th.

In a passionate but peaceful demonstration, those gathered in Washington were seeking President Obama’s support and asking the American public to understand the widespread abuse of religious minorities in Egypt.

Demonstrators carried large black coffins emblazoned with gold Coptic crosses for each of the Copts murdered on January 7th. The coffins were surrounded by hundreds of signs decrying attacks on Christian churches and businesses in Egypt and the abduction and forced marriages of Coptic girls. Despite representing 10% of the Egyptian population, the Coptic community is greatly underrepresented in Egyptian leadership, leaving the nearly 8 million Copts in Egypt (among 70 million Muslims) critically vulnerable to violence and persecution.

Crowds in Egypt demanding justice for the Christmas murders were met with water hoses, tear gas, and even arrests after protests grew violent. This new wave of violent religious persecution in Egypt was condemned by the Pope and has stirred Coptic Christians to protest in Cairo and several European capitols. AP reported 8,000 Copts protested in Sydney on Tuesday – the largest gathering in Coptic Australian history - while a protest thousands strong in New York City this week garnered no media attention.