Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia

Taye Zegeye, one of the community leaders present at the Community Leadership Summit, is working to improve the situation in his home country, Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian community had a march and a rally at the Legislature yesterday afternoon to bring attention to the situation in Ethiopia.

The situation in Ethiopia has parallels to the situation in the Ukraine. Many Canadians with a Ukranian background have worked hard to bring better conditions at home. They worked particularly hard at the time of the Orange revolution to bring about change.

The situation in Ethiopia has not received the attention it needs. Those who have come to Canada from Ethiopia are trying to give it the attention it deserves. They are also looking for help from Canadians in their efforts.

I spoke at the rally to provide support to the efforts of those who have come to Manitoba from Ethiopia. My brother Chris, now with the World Bank, worked for two years in Ethiopia in the 1970s, and I learned a lot about Ethiopia from him. I am concerned about what is now happening in Ethiopia. We need to do what we can to promote democracy and human rights in Ethiopia.

The top photo shows the rally at the legislature. The bottom photo shows me with Taye Zegeye as we stand together outside the legislature at the rally.