By Jennifer Glickel, Della Hasselle and Caroline Jumpertz
DNAinfo Reporters/Producers
MIDTOWN EAST — A crowd of more than 300 people rallied outside the Egyptian Mission to the UN in Midtown to support the Egyptian people's uprising, on Monday afternoon and evening.
Shouting slogans such as "Free, Free Egypt!" and "Down with Mubarak!" the crowd listened to organizers deliver impassioned pleas for democracy in Egypt, at the 304 East 44th St. mission building.
"We are here because the people of Egypt need democracy, and the White House is hesitant to say 'Yes,'" said Khaled Eibid of the Egyptian Association for Change, one of the groups organizing the event.
"We will accomplish freedom for all Egyptians, we need an election monitored by the United Nations, which is why we're standing here today," he said.
Organizers also called on President Barack Obama to use his influence to encourage a democratic election.
"We need to choose our leader for the first time in 30 years," Eibid said. "You said 'Yes, we can' Mr. Obama. Don't forget your promise."
Another organizer, Ayman El-Sawa from the International Action Center, said the support from around the globe was important to the Egyptian cause.
"I am here as an organizer to support my brothers and sisters in Egypt so they know we are here for them, their freedom is our freedom."
"If they are free in Egypt then we are free here," he said. "Egyptians need to know they have support around the world, not just in the U.S., but in Latin America and Europe also."
He called for the U.S. government to refuse to support Egypt's President of 30 years, Hosni Mubarak.
"First they said Mubarak wasn't a dictator, now they say he is, they need to speak the truth," El-Sawa added.
This past weekend, hundreds of protesters marched, sang and carried flags just a few blocks away at the United Nations building on First Avenue near 48th Street, in support of demonstrations in Egypt demanding that Mubarak step down.
Many New Yorkers feel anxious about the political turmoil, but are also eager for a change that will oust Mubarak.
New Yorkers and Egyptians rallied in English and Arabic on Twitter and Facebook before Monday's protest, stating their compassion and continued support.
"Mubarak : Give It Up! Nothing you say or do now is going to appease the citizens of the Egypt who have put up with you for 30 LONG Years," wrote Casmr Culah, of Queens, on the protest's Facebook event page. "If 30 Years isn't enough for you to close the gap between rich and poor, 100 years isn't going to be."
Others remained dubious about the future of the troubled country.
"I'm all for the people expressing their opinions, but I'm also praying that we do not see Egypt end up like Iran, a theocracy," Saungwon Ko said.
Over the weekend, President Barack Obama expressed a desire for Egypt's smooth transition to a more responsive government, a sentiment that was cautiously backed by Sen. Charles Schumer, AP reported.
Although Schumer felt Obama was doing a "good job" negotiating the diplomatic situation, he warned about becoming too involved with Egypt's next political decision.
"I don't think we, the president or the United States should tell Egypt who their leader should be," he told AP, adding U.S. leaders should "press the case that certain political and economic rights be given to the Egyptian people as the best way to bring stability."
Mubarak has already fired his cabinet and appointed a vice-president.
Egypt's political turmoil also has New York's financial community uneasy as U.S. crude oil future prices rose due to inconsistent trading, Reuters reported.
