Nightly News   |  February 02, 2011

American in Egypt: 'I don't want to leave'

Mary Thornberry tells NBC's Brian Williams about why she has decided to remain in Egypt despite the upheaval.

Share This:

This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>> finally here tonight, we heard from a viewer of ours today, contacted us because he said his mother is trapped in her apartment here and is in trouble. her name, mary thornberry. originally from ft. worth, texas. she moved here years ago to study ancient egyptian history. 76 years old. has an apartment on the square. normally terrific real estate, except when it's been turned over to the protests. mary told us when we called her by phone she knew she was in trouble when 12 men came to her apartment, broke the glass in her front door.

>> when he broke the glass, he reached his hand in and was attempting to take the key out of my door so he could get in.4 i managed to get that and i now have my key on my body. since then, about every five minutes or so, they would be yelling, ringing the doorbell, beating on the door, so that's what's been going on the last 20 minutes or so it's been much calmer. i think they're trying to get a little sleep. i figured they would sleep in the hallway for the night so they won't be out in the cold.

>> how worried are you about your safety?

>> i have a sharp knife. i have hot water. i have my walking cane and i have my rolling pin , so that's my armor. i really don't want to leave because the place will be vandalized, and it's my home. i just wish someone would come and take these thugs away and let me go on with my life. i have nobody but myself. i don't have a spouse, i don't have an employer, i don't have any institution backing me.

>> she's going to defend herself. one of many dramas playing out here. we'll keep you