At 6:00 pm last Saturday, Ethio-Americans, civil rights leaders, various community organizers and dignitaries arrived at IBEX Cafe Reception Hall for the fund raising Gala dinner. Dr Alula Wasse, a historian and long time resident of Seattle set the tone when he first took the stage to introduce Council Chairman Larry Gossett, by reminding the audience that: “We all are here today enjoying our relative freedom with equal access to all the things the nation has to offer because of the civil rights movement and the sacrifices of its leaders such as Council Chairman Larry Gossett”. Dr. Alula also thanked Mr. Gossett for championing the cause of Ethiopia and Ethiopians at every opportunity possible and called him a good friend of Ethiopia and Ethiopians. Dr. Alula also reminded Ethiopians about the fact that the ever increasing number of Ethiopian Americans, if properly organized as a meaningful voting bloc, could make them a powerful political force to reckon with.

Later on, Council Chairman Gossett took to the podium and thanked the Ethiopians that were gathered for the event for their continuous support and encouraged them to be organized and active in local and national elections. Mr. Gossett, after expressing his disgust with dictators in general and with Meles Zenawi regime in particular, promised to do everything in his power to urge his friends in the US congress and Senate to support the passage of HR 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007”.

Mr. Gossett and the event organizers were extremely pleased with the success of the event in bringing the African American community and the Ethiopian community together. During the event Ethiopians had a chance to meet Council Chairman in person and discuss issues of paramount importance to them as well as meet his entire family including his two charming granddaughters. Ethiopian style dinner was served and all attendees were entertained with Ethiopian traditional music and dance during and after the dinner.

Due to schedule problems, there were a lot of Ethiopians who couldn’t make it to the event, with the graduation at the UW and elsewhere and Kenenisa Bekele running in Eugene, Oregon the next morning, many Ethiopians have pledged to send their contribution. These pledges are still pouring from all corners of the city.

We all have witnessed the outcome of many recent US elections where final results were determined with only few marginal votes. The Washington State Governor’s election and many other local ones ended giving the winner a slight edge sometimes as little as ten or less votes. It is of paramount importance that all Ethiopian Americans living in Washington State and elsewhere, that are eligible to vote, do indeed register to vote.

The number of Ethiopian Americans in and around Greater Seattle is estimated to be twenty-five to thirty thousand. Out of this a few hundred or more pro-active civic-minded voters could certainly make a big difference in swaying the result of an election in a very tight race. If we organize ourselves, a very formidable powerful resource, underutilized so far, is at our hand to effectively challenge current and future US policies that are contrary to the deep rooted values held by both Americans and Ethiopians. The fact that we have not yet organized as a voting bloc is outrageously manifested by the financial and political support given to the brutal Meles Zenawi regime by the current and previous US administrations.

We encourage and urge all Ethiopian civil rights activists in every city and state in the US to identify their local representatives in both houses and call, write or fax them to co-sponsor and support House Bill HR 2003. Please also explain to them that this bill is nothing more than an instrument for laying down the foundation and safeguarding fundamental human rights and calling for the release of the democratically elected leaders of our people back home.

They must listen and listen carefully since we have the vote that could possibly affect their tenure of the seat they currently hold.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank and express our sincere appreciation to all those who made it to the fund raising Gala Dinner night.

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