LOS ANGELES – Deeply grieved by the slaughter of innocent Coptic Christian protesters by Egyptian army tanks that plowed through crowds near Shubra (Maspero) last weekend, the Copts of Los Angeles invite Christians worldwide to advocate for a peaceful Egypt by joining them in three days of prayer and fasting that began Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Following prayer and fasting, the Coptic Orthodox Christian Diocese of Los Angeles is participating in a peaceful demonstration 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Wilshire Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd.

Outraged by the lack of response by government authorities following an arson attack against a Coptic church in Egypt’s Aswan province last week, Copts launched a peaceful protest in Cairo’s Shubra. In response, the Egyptian military unleashed a violent assault on the demonstrators that left more than 24 Christians dead and at least 200 injured.

The Coptic Christian victims were “armed” only with crosses and signs. Egyptian TV and media misconstrued the events, blaming the peaceful Coptic Christians of mounting attacks against army tanks and troops. International media and YouTube, however, documented the violence.

The attacks are the worst violence to erupt in Egypt since the revolution in February that ousted Egypt’s former Pres. Hosni Mubarak. In recent months, Islamists have bombed and burned Christian churches, opposed building new churches and have incited violence against Christians.

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest church in the Middle East, with approximately 12 million faithful in Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Christian Diocese of Los Angeles is led by His Grace Bishop Serapion, who serves under the blessing of the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Alexandria, Egypt.

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For more information, or to arrange interviews with area Coptic leaders, contact Father Joseph Boules at 714.356.9597 or frboules@gmail.com.