Oromo Students Hold Rally On Mall
Howard University The Hilltop, DC - April 17, 2007
While the eyes of America are focused on the war in Iraq, thousands of Oromo people are trying to survive a different type of war in Africa, a war where innocent people are being murdered simply because of their nationality.
This is the message that the Oromo Youth Association wanted to convey to the U.S. government during their rally in Washington, D.C. on March 31.
The rally, which began at 11 a.m., started in front of the U.S. State Department and ended in front of the U.S. Capitol at 2 p.m. The protest gathered more than 500 supporters, including those who are not Oromo.
The Youth Association participants used several different ways to get their message across, such as painting their clothing to depict bloody wounds and walking in lines with ropes tied around their necks. Looking out at the rally, one could glimpse a small part of Oromo culture within the colorful sea of reds, yellows, greens and whites...