Sudanese unite to protest oppression of those in Sudan and Darfur. After the Darfur genocide of 1989 and 30 years of the Al-Bashir dictatorship in Sudan, a military council overthrew Al-Bashir in April. Now, that same council is not willing to hand the power back to the democratic people of Sudan. In December of 2018, there was a bad economic crisis and people took to the street demanding justice, freedom and peace.
The same justice, freedom and peace that our Independence day is all about.
“What we’re doing today is really hard. On June 3rd there was a massacre. People in Sudan went out and they stood up just like this, this beautiful freedom that we have today, and they were massacred for it. And so, in order for everybody to feel strong again, to come out again, it took a lot, and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing today,” Sudan Next Gen representative, Sally Elatta said.
This June 3rd massacre killed 100 protesters in the Sudan capitol of Khartoum and unknown numbers in Darfur. The price for freedom is harrowing.
“It’s terrible, but we discovered that our people are so creative and they tried to shut them down, but that actually excited them even more and they went on the streets in millions today. Every single city in Sudan has protests today and people are out on the street as we’re speaking right now,” Blue For Sudan representative, Nada Fadul said.
In response today and Worldwide, Sudanese people are uniting and protesting with Sudan and Darfur, saying you are not alone and we are watching over you.
“A lot of the people you see actually today are refugees from Sudan because they could not secure peace in their own country. Some of these people here today are from Darfur, so they fled the war in Darfur or the genocide in Darfur, and they did seek refuge in other countries, United States being one of them,” Fadul said.
There’s an estimated 10,000 Sudanese in the state of Nebraska. And they say, Nebraska is their home.
“Nebraska has been a welcoming community to our Sudanese refugees. I love the culture and the heritage and the diversity and the history of Nebraska that it did welcome the African American community back in the day when they could escape the South,” Fadul said.
“So grateful to all of the non-Sudanese that are donating, that are turning their social media blue, that are advocating with their senators to please help Sudan and please do not support another dictatorship,” Elatta said.
In lieu of the approach to July 4th, our Independence Day, Elatta wants to remind us to never forget that feeling.
“As a Sudanese American, especially when we’re Americans we don’t realize what’s happening around the world and how it can impact us, but I really want to send the message that democracy and human rights and freedom completely impact the United States of America,” Elatta said.
“We’re using our civic duty, we’re using the democracy that we enjoy in this country. And I hope one day, people in Sudan will be able to enjoy that democracy as well,” Fadul said.
And with the energy in the air, the heat cannot stop the power of the people.
“In Sudan, they are all walking in millions and there are armies and weapons around them that could hurt them at any point, but they’re still doing it. So, don’t take your democracy for granted, be very grateful for this amazing country that we have, the U.S.A.,” Elatta said.