nazret.com Merkato Blog

Ethiopia - Oklahoma Resolution Passed!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2008

The State of Oklahoma urges the President of the United States and Congress to Avert
Potentially Explosive Situation in Ethiopia"

Congratulations Ethiopians, Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007”

The Coalition for H.R. 2003 would like to Congratulate Ethiopians, Ethiopian-Americans and friends of Ethiopia in the great State of Oklahoma for their extraordinary success in
passing a Resolution on Ethiopia in the Oklahoma Senate memorializing the President of the United States and US Congress to demand that Ethiopia free all its political prisoners, encourage the formation of democratic institutions, multiparty participation, progressive social changes and respect for human rights in Ethiopia.

The Coalition for HR 2003 recently launched a 50-State Legislative Initiative to stop human rights abuses in Ethiopia by mobilizing American state legislatures to take a stand on the acute human rights situation in Ethiopia, and urging the release of political prisoners and the passage of HR 2003. Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans in the State of Massachusetts were the first to successfully pass a Resolution on Ethiopia in the State legislature. Oregonian Ethiopian-Americans were the second, and Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans in the State of Washington were the third and Oklahomans are the fourth.

Thank you for being a great example for all Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans from New York to California, from Minnesota to Texas and from sea to shining to hold hands in brotherhood and sisterhood with our American compatriots and march in the cause of freedom, democracy and human rights in Ethiopia.

As our brothers and sisters in the great State of Oklahoma, you have indeed raised the bar, but we will surely strive to follow in your footsteps in every state legislature! We say: “IF YOU CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE ALL IN OUR RESPECTIVE STATES.”

Congratulations and many thanks to the Citizens of the great State of Oklahoma for your dedication and commitment to human rights in Ethiopia.

As you may know, the State of Oklahoma’s United States Senator, James Inhofe
has elected to side with the tyrants in Ethiopia inconsistent with the wishes and values of
his Oklahoman constituents as exemplified by the unanimous approval of Senate
Resolution No. 77 by the Oklahoma State Senate.

Coalition for H.R. 2003 respectfully request supporters of democracy and respect for Human Rights in Ethiopia to fax a copy of the Resolution to Senator James Inhofe’s offices and follow-up with phone calls and urge him to stand with the people of Oklahoma instead of a distant dictator.

Senator James Inhofe’s contact information:

Washington, DC office: (202) 224-4721 (tel); ( 202 ) 228-0380 (fax)
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3602
Oklahoma City, OK office: (405) 608-4381 (tel); (405) 608-4120 (fax)