And Then the Hatch Blew Open

Whatever the circumstances that got things going, the anti-Islam video which was the subject of September 9 programming on a salafi TV station in Egypt has become the official reason for protests across the Arab world and in some places beyond, protests which now seem to have grown from mere hundreds to more significant thousands and too often become outright riots.

One development of note is the participation in Cairo's demonstrations by Copts:

"Late Friday afternoon the Muslim Brotherhood organized a massive demonstration in front of the Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque that brought together members of the Salafi and Jama’a al-Islamiya groups, as well as three delegations from the Diocese of Giza, which includes the Virgin Mary Church in Imbaba, the Abu Seven Church in Mohandiseen and the Saint Anthony Church in Ard al-Lewa.

"Demonstrators chanted 'Muslims and Christians are one hand,' and said that the current conflict over the recently released anti-Islam film, 'Innocence of Muslims,' will only serve to strengthen the relationship between Muslims and Christians in Egypt."

I'd say Coptic leaders in Egypt are participating mainly to prevent their community from being blamed by Egyptian Muslims.  I hope it works, and Egypt's leaders seem to be encouraging national unity, but I still fear that some ignorant radicals will take out a violent revenge on Egyptian Christians.