On this day and working class history. The eighteenth of January and on the eighteenth of January nineteen seventy seven, workers and poor people across Egypt rose up against the ending of state subsidies for basic goods in what became known as the Bread into Fada. The cancelation of around fifty five million dollars in twenty twenty money of subsidies, especially on food, along with pay cuts for public sector workers,
was announced the day before. On the morning of January eighteenth, workers in factories around Cairo and hell Ian began to walk out. In Schubert l Camar, some workers went on strike, while others occupied their workplaces as well. Meanwhile, students and civil servants marched on Parliament while protests spread across the country.
Protesters cut railway lines and blockaded tracks, set fire to police stations, attacked hotels and wealth districts, and the headquarters of the ruling Egypt Arab Socialist Party with set up laze. Demonstrators braved violent security forces who were using live ammunition, and in some cases protesters seized referonry from police stations. Despite the government killing around eight hundred people and injuring many more, Within two days, strikes and rioting had occurred
in most industrial towns and seas across the country. The government was forced to back down and withdraw its plans after just forty eight hours. Learn more about the history of the uprising in episodes fifty nine to sixty of the Working Class History podcast. Listen wherever you're listening to this podcast and the sources, maps and all of our
anniversaries each day. Check out the on this Day section of our stories apt at stories Stop Workingclasshistory dot com, and if you value our work, support us at Patreon dot com slash working class History. Links in the show theme music by the cartore Setomour