SEATTLE – Members of the Ethiopian Community here in Seattle took to the streets on Friday February 16, 2007 to put on notice both the US and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia to immediately release all political prisoners and return to civility and negotiation before the country’s social and political situation slid into chaos.
Ethiopians from all corners of Greater Seattle area flocked into downtown Seattle, Westlake Park, around noon. Many protesters came to the Rally draped with the ever shining, our national symbol, Green, Yellow and Red flags while some were carrying life-size pictures of the jailed leaders.
At the Rally, speakers after speakers described the gross and flagrant nature of the human rights abuses in our homeland. Among the invited guests, Mr. Larry Gossip, King County council member, an ardent and vocal defender of human rights, summed up the whole situation in our country when he stated “no tyrant will remain in power for long by the sole use of force”. He further added, “we will challenge the US government how and why it decided to shield and help a government that has jailed the elected leaders”. The crowd responded with a continuous applaud and shouted back repeatedly “America stop aiding a dictator”.
The demonstrators then proceeded to the Federal Building chanting slogans that demanded the immediate release of the prisoners of conscience. The usually quiet Second Street at the heart of downtown Seattle reverberated with an amplified megaphone calling for action on the part of the US government to help stop the madness in Addis Ababa. Leaflets, describing the purpose of the rally, prepared for the occasion were distributed to the public where many people after reading the facts expressed their intentions to talk to their State representatives about the dire situation in Ethiopia. Other law makers, Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray, who are currently in Washington DC, through their letters and a representative in the latter case, also expressed their full support and promised to further follow up the matter on our behalf
On another note, here in Seattle, the second day of the Candle Light Prayer Vigil ended today with a high hope that the Prisoners will be released come February 19th. The third and last day of the Prayer Vigil will be held tomorrow at the St Gabriel Church starting at 5:00 pm. Besides the main prayer program, attendees were encouraged to talk about and express their grief and feelings about the political situation in our country. Most respondents tend to cry and show frustration and hopelessness about the direction our country is heading to unless the government made a sensible and sane decision concerning the fate of political prisoners. Still others expressed anger at the way the current government is running the country’s affairs particularly its gross violations of basic human rights.
Once again, we, therefore, ask the Prime Minister and his colleagues to heed the calls of the Ethiopian people and the international community at large and release those prisoners of conscience without any pre-conditions. Negotiation is the only solution out of the current quagmire. The ball is indeed on your hands, Mr. Prime Minister, to either save the country from a perpetual turmoil or reinstate a peaceful atmosphere by releasing the prisoners and engaging in a dialogue with them for the well being and livelihood of our people primarily depends on the latter. Unless you defy conventional wisdom, the whole world knows all along that these elected leaders are absolutely innocent of the charges you brought against them.
Many thanks to all those who showed up both at the Rally and the Candle Light Prayer Vigil.
God bless Ethiopia!
Let Justice and Freedom prevail in our homeland.
