To: All Oromos and Friends of the Oromo,
The Ethiopian Government is waging a genocidal war on the Oromo and other people in Ethiopia. The senseless brutal crime taken against peaceful Oromo participants at the Irreecha festival by the TPLF/EPRDF security agents on October 2, 2016 is incomprehensible, repugnant and inhuman. We, the Oromo in Diaspora, are shocked and are still in disbelief. For a long time, particularly during the last elven months, the Ethiopian regime has responded to peaceful and legitimate protests of the Oromo with unrestrained violence and brutality. However, what happened on October 2 at the Irreecha festival exceeded even earlier level of violence. This was not only repressive, but a total war on the culture and religious practices of the Oromo people. Participants of the tradition Irreecha festival were attacked and killed on their most sacred ground and holiest day of the calendar. The Ethiopian government’s action is a heinous genocidal crime intended to terrorize the Oromo people and wipe out their culture.
In response to this tragic incident in which hundreds of Oromos were massacred and the widespread systematic killings, arrests and torture of protesters, the Oromo Communities’ Association in North America (OCA-NA) and the Oromo Community Organization (OCO) of the Washington Metropolitan Area call on all Oromos and friends of the Oromo to come out in unity to protest the killings and senseless brutality in Ethiopia. This protest rally is scheduled to take place in front of the White House, World Bank, IMF and US State Department on Friday, October 21, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The purpose of this rally is to strongly protest against the ongoing human rights violations and genocidal war waged on Oromos and other peaceful protesters, and condemn the killings at Lake Harsadi during the Ireecha festival on October 2, 2016. The rally will alert U.S. citizens and government, and the global community about the heinous crimes of the Ethiopian government. At the rally, we will submit petitions to the U.S. Administration to save the Oromo people from the genocidal killings and hold the Ethiopian government accountable for its atrocities by exerting utmost pressure. We will request US Government to:
• Stop the genocidal war waged on Oromia.
• Stop the killings, arbitrary arrests, kidnappings, torturing of Oromo people.
• Respect the rule of law and bring those who committed extrajudicial killings to court.
• Respect the demands of the Oromo and others people peaceful protestors.
• Release all prisoners without any pre-conditions.
We call upon all Oromo nationals living in United States and Canada, and all friends of the Oromo living in Washington D.C metropolitan area to participate in this peaceful demonstration. We call upon all peace loving people to stand with protesters for justice and peace. We urge parents bring family members and encourage friends to participate in this rally and their show solidarity with the Oromos dying at their homes in Ethiopia.
Let’s sacrifice a day to show the world our outrage against the repressive regime, solidarity to our compatriots, and commitment to our struggle!
The Organizing Committee: