Capitol Hill rally drums up support for human rights bill
Ethiopian Americans for HR 5680
| September 29, 2006
H.R. 5680 is intended to help Ethiopia build strong democratic institutions, establish mechanisms for the protection of human rights and civil liberties, strengthen the U.S-Ethiopian partnership in the war against terrorism and release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
H.R. 5680, authored by New Jersey Congressmen Christopher Smith [R] and Donald Payne [D], passed unanimously in the House International Relations Committee this past June, but was unable to proceed to the floor after being blocked by Speaker Hastert. Ethiopian-Americans across the Unites States are dismayed and surprised that Speaker Hastert has decided to thwart freedom, democracy and human rights in their homeland. The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of more than 25 members of Congress.
The rally, organized by concerned Ethiopian Americans in Washington, D.C., was held on Capitol Hill West Front from 9:00 a.m. till noon on Thursday, September 28, 2006.
The rally asked Speaker Hastert why he has taken the unusual step of intervening in a bill that has the unanimous support of the International Relations Committee and authored and supported by global champions of human rights such as congressmen Chris Smith and Tom Lantos, and the former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Africa expert Donald Payne. Despite hundreds of telephone calls and in person visits, Speaker Hastert and his office have offered no explanations for his unusual actions in preventing H.R. 5680 from getting to the floor.
The rally was addressed by Congressman Mike Honda, Chairman of the Ethiopia Caucus in the House of Representatives; Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a cosponsor of the Bill; and Mr. Gregory Simpkins, Professional Staff Member of the Subcommittee on Africa.
Coalition for HR 5680 says "Congratulations!"
The Coalition for H.R. 5680 extends its heartfelt congratulations to all who organized and participated in the H.R. 5680 Rally on the Hill on September 28, 2006.
By all accounts, the peaceful demonstration was a massive success both for its attendance levels as well as the passionate display of support for H.R. 5680 by participants.
The Coalition believes the Rally on the Hill today has served to smash the caricature of Ethiopians as a group of “do nothings, all-talk-and-no-action types incapable of uniting to accomplish anything.” You have proven that Ethiopians, regardless of our ethnic affiliation, socioeconomic status or station in life in the Diaspora, are able to come together on the Hill of the Law Givers and exercise our constitutional rights to petition for redress of our grievances. “YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!” So said, Congressman Mike Honda. “Your cause is now well-known to members of the United States Congress,” said Greg Simpkins of the House International Relations Committee. YOU ARE VICTORIOUS!!!
The Coalition knows it is a matter of time before H.R. 5680 is enacted into law. There is no doubt about that! The struggle to pass H.R. 5680 will end only when it is signed by the President of the United States. However long that takes, you have proven to the world that: “Ethiopians finish what they start.”
As you stood on those hallowed grounds of the U.S. Congress and pressed your cause for democracy and human rights, the Coalition beheld your presence and contemplated on the words of Martin Luther King, who facing similar challenges said: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
All of you who organized the Rally on the Hill, and all of you who participated in it have proven that the “goal of justice” in Ethiopia requires sacrifice, and that you are prepared to make it, not for your selves, but for your mothers and father, brothers and sisters, friends, relatives and neighbors you have left behind. How proud they would have been if they could see you on the Hill draped in the beautiful Ethiopian flag, while waving the American one in your hands! If only they could have seen you speaking for them after they have been rendered mute by their oppressors! If only they could have seen you raising your voices in unison, from every ethnic group and region in Ethiopia, and shouting a mighty shout for democracy, equality and human rights in Ethiopia! If they could only have seen, heard and felt the fire and passion in your voices on this day on the Hill, how proud, how contented, how blessed they would have felt that their children, brothers and sisters and friends are at the helm of the freedom train. Thank you for giving your people unfailing hope, that Freedom Train #5680 will be passing every hamlet, town and city to pick them up and take them to freedomland.
THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE
www.hr5680.org
e-mail: helppasshr5680@hr5680.org
Tel# 323-988-5688
Fax# 323-924-5563
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
H.R. 5680 is intended to help Ethiopia build strong democratic institutions, establish mechanisms for the protection of human rights and civil liberties, strengthen the U.S-Ethiopian partnership in the war against terrorism and release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
H.R. 5680, authored by New Jersey Congressmen Christopher Smith [R] and Donald Payne [D], passed unanimously in the House International Relations Committee this past June, but was unable to proceed to the floor after being blocked by Speaker Hastert. Ethiopian-Americans across the Unites States are dismayed and surprised that Speaker Hastert has decided to thwart freedom, democracy and human rights in their homeland. The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of more than 25 members of Congress.
The rally, organized by concerned Ethiopian Americans in Washington, D.C., was held on Capitol Hill West Front from 9:00 a.m. till noon on Thursday, September 28, 2006.
The rally asked Speaker Hastert why he has taken the unusual step of intervening in a bill that has the unanimous support of the International Relations Committee and authored and supported by global champions of human rights such as congressmen Chris Smith and Tom Lantos, and the former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Africa expert Donald Payne. Despite hundreds of telephone calls and in person visits, Speaker Hastert and his office have offered no explanations for his unusual actions in preventing H.R. 5680 from getting to the floor.
The rally was addressed by Congressman Mike Honda, Chairman of the Ethiopia Caucus in the House of Representatives; Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a cosponsor of the Bill; and Mr. Gregory Simpkins, Professional Staff Member of the Subcommittee on Africa.
Coalition for HR 5680 says "Congratulations!"
The Coalition for H.R. 5680 extends its heartfelt congratulations to all who organized and participated in the H.R. 5680 Rally on the Hill on September 28, 2006. By all accounts, the peaceful demonstration was a massive success both for its attendance levels as well as the passionate display of support for H.R. 5680 by participants.
The Coalition believes the Rally on the Hill today has served to smash the caricature of Ethiopians as a group of “do nothings, all-talk-and-no-action types incapable of uniting to accomplish anything.” You have proven that Ethiopians, regardless of our ethnic affiliation, socioeconomic status or station in life in the Diaspora, are able to come together on the Hill of the Law Givers and exercise our constitutional rights to petition for redress of our grievances. “YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!” So said, Congressman Mike Honda. “Your cause is now well-known to members of the United States Congress,” said Greg Simpkins of the House International Relations Committee. YOU ARE VICTORIOUS!!!
The Coalition knows it is a matter of time before H.R. 5680 is enacted into law. There is no doubt about that! The struggle to pass H.R. 5680 will end only when it is signed by the President of the United States. However long that takes, you have proven to the world that: “Ethiopians finish what they start.”
As you stood on those hallowed grounds of the U.S. Congress and pressed your cause for democracy and human rights, the Coalition beheld your presence and contemplated on the words of Martin Luther King, who facing similar challenges said: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
All of you who organized the Rally on the Hill, and all of you who participated in it have proven that the “goal of justice” in Ethiopia requires sacrifice, and that you are prepared to make it, not for your selves, but for your mothers and father, brothers and sisters, friends, relatives and neighbors you have left behind. How proud they would have been if they could see you on the Hill draped in the beautiful Ethiopian flag, while waving the American one in your hands! If only they could have seen you speaking for them after they have been rendered mute by their oppressors! If only they could have seen you raising your voices in unison, from every ethnic group and region in Ethiopia, and shouting a mighty shout for democracy, equality and human rights in Ethiopia! If they could only have seen, heard and felt the fire and passion in your voices on this day on the Hill, how proud, how contented, how blessed they would have felt that their children, brothers and sisters and friends are at the helm of the freedom train. Thank you for giving your people unfailing hope, that Freedom Train #5680 will be passing every hamlet, town and city to pick them up and take them to freedomland.
THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE
www.hr5680.org
e-mail: helppasshr5680@hr5680.org
Tel# 323-988-5688
Fax# 323-924-5563
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
