The Eritrean American community in the Washington, D.C., area and surrounding states will hold a massive rally Monday, February 22, 2010, to protest the Obama administration’s policy for the Horn of Africa in general, and Africa’s newest nation, Eritrea, in particular.
The rally, which is also expected to draw thousands of protesters from across the Mid Atlantic and Mid West states, is set to start at 10am, at Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. A similar protest will be held the same day in the West Coast, in San Francisco, CA.
These rallies are part of a world wide campaign, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to protest an unjust, illegal and reckless sanctions measure rammed by the Obama administration recently through the UN Security Council against Eritrea based on fabricated charges manufactured by this young nation’s traditional enemies, especially Ethiopia, with regards to Somalia. This misguided measure is a reflection of Washington’s disastrous policy for the Horn of Africa which has been crying for change for nearly two decades.
Eritrea, which was among the first nations to join the Coalition of the Willing in 2003, has made indelible contributions in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa and surrounding regions. US and Eritrean national interests have a lot in common because both want to see this region free of terror and terrorists. However, the sanctions against Eritrea come after a 10 year hostile policy towards the new nation by successive US administrations in order to appease the murderous minority regime ruling Ethiopia today.
This must be changed and the unjust and reckless sanctions must be immediately repealed and annulled. Stop scapegoating Eritrea for the disastrous policy the successive administrations have been pursuing. Eritrea is being punished for not supporting the US-backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia that has resulted in the largest humanitarian disaster in the history of Somalia. Eritrea believes that the Somali issue can only be resolved by the Somalis themselves without external interference.
US policy of appeasement towards Ethiopia has emboldened the minority regime led by Meles Zenawi to flout international law, the UN and African Union Charters and commit international crimes. Despite the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s (EEBC) final and binding ruling on the Eritrea Ethiopia border issue, Zenawi’s minority regime continues to occupy sovereign Eritrean territories including Badme, the casus bellie for the 1998-2000 war.
Come and join us on Monday, Feb. 22 at 10am, in front of the White House to protest against this injustice.
WHO: The Eritrean American Communities in the Washington metro area and Mid Atlantic States.
WHAT: Mass demonstration to protest Sanctions against Eritrea.
WHERE & WHEN: Begins at 10:00am on Monday 22 February, 2010 at the White House (Lafayette Park)
E-SMART – Eritrea Sanctions Must be Repealed and Annulled (Global
Movement with organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East)
See http://www.eritrean-smart.org/ for more background information on the 22 February 2010 event and more.