Seattle Ethiopians angry at dictator Addisu Legesse's visit

By Ethiopians in Seattle
Press Release | August 24, 2006

Seattle is home to staunch pro-democracy Ethiopian American activists. Several of the widespread crimes being committed by the Meles Zenawi regime were met with stiff condemnation in Seattle as in any other major cities around the world. (Photo: Ethiomedia)

NOT IN OUR CITY - Seattle!
Urgent call against KILLERS
An opposition to a visiting dictator

SEATTLE - Ethiopian Americans and friends in Seattle will protest the visit to their city of Addisu Legesse, a deputy prime minister who is responsible for the death, torture and displacement of thousands of Ethiopians following the historic May 2005 elections won by the popular opposition Kinijit but aborted by the gunmen in power in Addis Ababa. Addisu Legesse was accorded a cold reception of an empty meeting hall when he visited San Jose earlier Tuesday. Following is the full text released by the protest organizers:

We, Ethiopians and Ethio-Americans living in and around the greater Seattle area, received the news of the visit by the unelected current Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Addisu Legesse, with great dismay and utter disturbance. Addisu Legesse is directly and primarily responsible for the death, torture, and imprisonment of thousands of Ethiopians. Among the thousands of victims of Addisu Legesse’s government are elected officials, journalists, children, and elderly. While we are appalled by the brazenness of Addisu Legesse to show up in Seattle, we would like to express our outrage and also inform all those who care and concerned about human and civil rights that Addisu Legasse is not welcome to our city - Seattle.

Accordingly, we respectfully request and invite that all residents of Seattle and beyond to join us in expressing our deepest and heartfelt rage over the so called Ethiopian Consulate General for hosting a known killer in our city. We also call upon Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to join us condemn extra-judicial killings, massacre, torture, and unjust imprisonment Ethiopians face in their homeland everyday.

What: Peaceful protest

When: Thursday, August 24, 2006, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Where: The Mountaineers Building
    300 Third Ave West
    Seattle, WA 98119

Let’s show Addisu Legesse that:

• Seattle is not a place for baby killers and torturers of millions
• Ethiopians in Seattle will not support nor do we keep silent of the plan by Addisu et al to repeat Rwanda’s horrific Genocide in Ethiopia
• We do not let Addisu Legesse to spread his poisonous message of ethnic hatred, and justification of the killings of thousands innocent citizens The world no longer accommodates killers, torturers, and dictators.

Taking this occasion we kindly request our fellow Washingtonians committed to promoting genuine democracy to side with the Ethiopian people in getting the popularly elected opposition leadership out of jail!