By Joe Peters
The protest came a day after hundreds of Somalis joined the March on the RNC to raise awareness about the daily genocide happening in Somalia.
Burnsville resident Khalif Ahmed, 54, led the march down Cedar Avenue and shouted slogans like "Free Somalia!" and "No genocide!" as about 30 people — many of whom joined as the protest was in progress — echoed his chants. Members of the Somali Union carried both U.S. and Somali flags and pictures of violence committed in Somalia by the Ethiopian regime.
"This is about the displacement of 2.5 million people and slaughter of 150,000 Somalis," said Gandi Mohamed, 28, of Minneapolis. "Somalia's got the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. We've been spending $500 million a year in taxes to support warlords. That money should be spent at home."
Mohamed estimated that about 300 Somalis marched Monday for the same cause. He said today's lower turnout was affected by many factors, including rainy weather and the Islamic observance of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during the daylight hours for 30 days. Ramadan began Monday.
"We had 300 Somalis who didn't eat or drink and still march," Mohamed said. "That's how dedicated they are about this."
The Ethiopian occupation of Somalia began in July 2006, when much of the country, including its capital city, Mogadishu, was in control of the Islamic Court Union. By the year's end, most of the ICU had been ousted. The Bush administration backs Ethiopia.
Many marchers said the U.S. media were ignoring the issues in Somalia.
"The media has closed their eyes and completely ignored the daily deaths and rapes in Mogadishu," said Minneapolis resident Salah Warsame. "It defies logic."
Source: Pioneer Press, Sept 02, 2008