Sunday, November 16, 2008 from 2PM to 7PM 350 Anderson Hall at the University of Minnesota

Ogadeni, Oromo, Amhara, Anuak and other Ethiopians live in the Twin Cities and in greater Minnesota, but usually do not interact with each other, yet they share many things in common, including their love of their families and their motherland and their deep concern for these loved ones back home in Ethiopia who continue to face hardship, oppression and suffering.

The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia has called on leaders among the Minnesota Ethiopian communities and ethnic organizations to hold “A Minnesota Ethiopian Dialogue” in order to build new bridges of solidarity not only to Ethiopia, but between isolated ethnic groups so that all groups might be empowered to work together on some of the most pressing issues facing, affecting and threatening the lives of all Ethiopians.

For years, when each group has been confronted with difficulties both here and in Ethiopia, divisions and a lack of close relationships with each other have prevented us from gaining a louder and more powerful “Ethiopian voice” that could have advanced a shared vision for Ethiopia—freedom, justice, peace, security, equality and opportunity—and from tackling other shared issues here in America. In our independence from each other, we have not only lost opportunities, but we have failed to stand up when others in our greater family of Ethiopians were at their greatest points of need.

Ethiopian ethnic politics and politicians like Meles Zenawi have found ways to create tensions between groups so that bridges are never built or if they are, cracks and stresses in the structure of the bridges cause them to collapse like the I-35W bridge that broke the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in two only a year ago. What if those on either side of the river had not worked together in rebuilding the bridge that is now connecting the people of both cities together, but had each tried to build the bridge on their own?

Ethiopia has also collapsed and needs rebuilding. Will we do it alone or can we build a stronger, more structurally sound bridge to a new, just, peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia if we work together? To accomplish the most long-lasting change, we cannot only connect against a common enemy or only in bad times; but instead, we must connect over shared goals and dreams for a future Ethiopia where our people can not only survive, but thrive!

Our hope is that we can enrich the greater Ethiopian community here while working in solidarity for our people back home. There is a need for oneness. After all, regardless of what region you have come from in Ethiopia to live here in America, we are all Ethiopian Americans now. As we catch the spirit of America that brings everyone into the “melting pot,” our unity and collective action could greatly impact Ethiopia for good—the same Ethiopia that almost every one of us thinks about every day, dreaming of a better life for our loved ones—one where they will be able to live without daily fear of being killed or denied opportunity for justice because he or she belonged to a certain ethnic group.

What would have resulted if we had had such unity in 2003 when the Anuak were massacred, when Anuak instead, ended up protesting by themselves in front of the Minnesota Capitol building? What would have happened if other ethnic groups, in addition to the Oromo, had spoken out against the widespread human rights abuses of the Oromo?

Right now, our Ogadeni and Somali brothers and sisters are being slaughtered and starved to death by the man who claims to be the leader of their own country, Meles Zenawi, and what is our response?

This time, some have already opened their minds and hearts to our fellow Ethiopians and shown that they have changed when this past week in Washington D.C., Ogadenis were not alone, but good and
caring Ethiopians were standing at their sides in solidarity! This is the power of unity and the “New Ethiopia” that begins in our minds and show through our actions.

We intend to do it again here in the Twin Cities on November 21. This is a day, the Ogadeni community has already announced as a day for a World Wide Protest against the silent genocide and crimes against humanity that have been committed against our brothers and sisters, the Ogadeni people in southeast Ethiopia.

On Sunday, November 16th, we are calling all Ethiopians to join in this Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia. Ethiopians are wonderful, loving, caring and bright people who have much to share with each other and others in the rest of the world.

This is beyond politics. On this day, as we reach out to each other, it will also be a celebration of our differences grounded in our common humanity. Let the beauty displayed in the varied colors, hues, shapes and sizes of the flowers in the garden of Ethiopia be a sign of hope for the future of a new Ethiopia.

The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia has already been created and within it we have people from many different ethnic, political and religious groups like—Anuak, Benishangul-Gumuz, Amhara, Oromo, Ogaden, Southern Nations, Tigrayans, Gurage, Borana, Muslims, Christians, men, women, young and old—all working together for the benefit of all. The Twin Cities is the second launching site of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia.

Do not miss this opportunity to be part of this grass roots movement to prosper a people and a nation.

For more information, please contact one of the organizing Committee:

Mr. Robsan Itana; the founder and director of Oromo American Citizens Council, Phone 651-917 -0430 E-mail: itana_robsan [@] hotmail.com or
Mr. Berhane Worku, Member of the Ethiopian Community in twin cities, Phone 651-325-8443
E-mail: bdworku [@] hotmail.com