In this paper we examine the fluctuating fate of public space in Egypt since June 30, 2013. We argue that although young men and women succeeded in reclaiming the public space from the apparatuses of the post-colonial state in 2011, this turned out to be a temporary phenomenon. Following the toppling of Mubarak regime the public space was first colonized by the sectarian forces, which led to contentious fragmentation and polarization in the fledgling national political community. However, millions of citizens, led by progressive groups, once again took to the streets, holding massive demonstrations, calling for early presidential elections and resignation of President Morsi. In an ironical turn of events this opened the opportunity for the public space to be re-colonized by the military on the pretext of creating a liberal democracy. The popular participation in the massive protests in Tahir Square and other urban spaces that had become a symbol of hope for the country, since 2011, were co-opted by the military in the name of “confronting terrorism.” We argue that the ideas, ideals, and the tenacity of the protesters that had created the hope for a constitutional democracy today lie in ruins because of internal contradiction among the progressive forces. In addition, we show that both the sectarian forces and the military had appropriated symbols and images of democratic uprising in their quest to colonize the public space. Through a semiotic and discourse analysis of the symbols, slogans and images collected from a series of protests we examine the process of re-colonization of the public space by sectarian forces and the military. We conclude that despite the current state of affairs the prospects for an expansionary public space and liberal democracy in Egypt looks hopeful, in the long run, because ideas and ideals driving social mobilization in the country has redefined and reconstructed the civil society, which is here to stay.