DEARBORN, Mich. — Dozens of Detroit-area Arab Americans gathered Friday to celebrate Hosni Mubarak's resignation as Egypt's president and to express hope that a domino effect could bring democracy to other countries in the region.
Ahmed Aly, 30, of Mount Clemens, led the crowd in the singing of Egypt's national anthem at the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn. The Detroit suburb is the center of southeastern Michigan's Arab-American community, which is one of the largest in the U.S.
Born in Egypt, Aly has lived in the U.S. since 1999 and said he wants to travel there to help make a mark on its future.
"It was marvelous," said Aly, who was with his wife and young son at the gathering. "It was great. As you see, the regime doesn't surrender easily."
The crowd also observed a moment of silence for those who died during the uprising. Signs with the words "Support Democracy in Egypt" and "Victory to the Egyptian People" were put up at the front of the hall, and two in the crowd wrapped themselves in Egyptian flags.
"I have never been more proud to be an Egyptian than I am right now," said Ola Elsaid, a 39-year-old Rochester physician who was born in Egypt and moved to the U.S. in 1995.
Egypt's vice president Omar Suleiman announced Friday that Mubarak was handing control of the country to the military. The toppling of Mubarak — ending three decades of authoritarian rule — came after three weeks of pro-democracy protests that many feared would end in futility.
Mohammad Qazzaz, a Palestinian who turned out Friday in Dearborn to celebrate, said it makes him hopeful for those in other Middle East nations.
"This is a great feeling. This is a great victory for the Egyptian people. We hope that the democracy that this country is formed on will spread," said Qazzaz, 27, of Dearborn.
Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani, who helped organize the gathering, said the world has witnessed a beautiful day with the rise of "the young, the believers" in Egypt.
"We were taken for granted," Siblani said. "The Arabs were taken for granted. And you know what happened? The Arabs presented to the world one of the most wonderful revolutions in modern history."
A larger rally is planned for Saturday afternoon outside Dearborn City Hall, he said.
After hearing that Mubarak had handed control of the country to the military, Siblani said staff at the Arab American News began changing the publication's front page late Friday morning to reflect the announcement.
"Today, I cried my tears out when I heard that this is it and he was gone," Aly said.
Zeinab Khalil, 19, of Toledo, Ohio, drove home to celebrate with her parents — Egyptian immigrants who came to the U.S. in the 1980s — after finishing classes Friday at the University of Michigan. She felt a kinship with the young people in Egypt, including her cousins, who were among the demonstrators.
"I want the same rights and freedoms for them to enjoy that we have," she said. "They don't even know what freedom feels like. Most of them have only known one dictator."
She last visited her family in Egypt in June and July, and joined them in small, silent protests over the way police were treating young people.
"I would have never predicted this would turn into a revolution," she said.
Richard Nodel, president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit, said in a statement that he was encouraged by the events in Egypt.
"We . . . pray that the outcome of this process is a moderate, secular democratic government shaped and selected by the people," he said, "one that maintains Egypt's 30-year peace with Israel and continues to support the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."
Associated Press writer John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio contributed to this report.