Instructions for the protest were clearly disseminated on Facebook: Stand 5 feet apart, so as not to break Egyptian laws against public demonstration; be absolutely silent; no signs; wear black, as determined in an online vote; stand on the banks of the river or sea for one hour only, then walk away.
No one yet knew who had organized this protest against police brutality. There were five Facebook page administrators, tech-savvy activists who didn't really know each other. They had communicated almost exclusively over Google's e-mail system, which doesn't allow outsiders to trace communications back to a specific computer's IP address.
What they did is described in detail in the article on CNN, but the point is that through safe and private communication, a peaceful protest was launched. Facebook is one of few places with the scope to unite so many people, and it's such an unusual method that there was no way to squash it.
The power of communication, free speech and passion is sometimes all you need.
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