Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities and towns across Sudan Sunday as they fight for democracy. Protesters say they have been peaceful, but at least 7 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured during the demonstrations.
In Nashville, the Sudanese American community gathered to support their friends and families in Sudan.
More than 100 people gathered in Centennial Park to stand in solidarity with their friends and families abroad and condemn Sudan’s military council.
“We are condemning them because they are killing the peaceful protesters in South Sudan,” Juma Shabu said. “Millions and millions have been shot randomly, women are raped for no reason.”
“At any moment, there could be someone killed, a child killed, someone tortured,” said Abdel Babikir.
Both Shabu and Babikir have loved ones in Sudan.
“I have a lot of family there and I’m scared day by day,” Shabu said.
Earlier this month, there was a revolution where the people finally overthrew the president.
Babikir says in Omar al-Bashir’s 30 years as ruler, the people have not seen a single good day.
“There’s always war, always suffering, always hunger,” Babikir says.
The problem is, they say the Transitional Military Council took over the government and does not want to give it back to the people, who want a civilian-led administration.
The people have been peacefully protesting, but say the military is still shooting and tear gassing them.
They say they can’t even talk to their families because the military council has shut down the internet in Sudan.
The people in Nashville, and around the country, are holding these demonstrations to bring attention to the issue as they beg and plead the American government and the international council to step in to help stop the violence.
“We are peaceful people, we are loving people. We just need our life to become better. We just need peace; we need justice,” Shabu says.
They say, in America, we can hold gatherings and express ourselves without fear of getting arrested or tortured, and they want their families in Sudan to have the same freedoms.