A journalist present in Mahalla during the April uprising, recalling the initial clashes that sparked the intifada in El-Shoun Sq:
It was all peaceful (in the square) until the police assaulted the people. Suddenly, I don’t know from where they showed up, but out of the alleys came big baladi women with sticks and kitchen knives.. young men.. children.. like a sea flood.. I don’t know from where they showed up.. but again, they just appeared. They fought the police back. The women were shouting at the soldiers and corporals: “You Israeli sons of bitches! You Israeli sons of dogs!”