On behalf of the planning group for the rally to demand the rescue of the Chibok Girls who were kidnapped on April 15, I would like to thank everyone who showed up today, and everyone who was not able to be there but supported the effort from a distance and sent positive vibes. Our planning group's aim was to rally everyone in solidarity to these girls families and to the brave Nigerian women and men who began demanding the rescue of the girls before the international community recently woke up.
Thank you for showing up in large numbers in a very short notice. We had over 200 people at the rally location. There really is strength in numbers. As the Nigerian wise said, "you do not call a meeting to kill a snake." All of us Africans, people of African descent and our friends and supporters showed up in a matter of days because of the urgency of the situation. This goes to show how much progress we can accomplish when we stand united. What has been going on in Nigeria is not just a Nigerian problem, but an African and a world problem. It is a problem for humanity. Together, we need to get informed, support one another, and find solutions leading to peace and development. We want the girls of Chibok free now because violence against any of our children is an offense against all our children. Children are the future of society and a society that harms her children's safety and well-being does not have a future. Nelson Mandela once said that "education is the great engine of personal development." Keeping girls or any child from getting an education is detrimental to development. So thank you for adding your voice to reject the mindset that wants to stand in the way of girls getting an education.
We are particularly grateful to AWA, AAM and UNIMA-Women leaders and others who addressed the crowd and spoke to the media. Without your presence, creative signs, leaflets and loud voices, this rally would not have been as successful.
We will be updating you on the next step before long. In the meantime, please forward this expression of gratitude to your respective national, student, community, professional, social, or religious organization and institution on our behalf.
Our rally made news as you can see and hear from the links below. TV channels 27, 3 and 15 featured the rally in their evening newscast. You may spot yourself or someone you know from the coverage. I have also attached photos that people have shared.
http://www.wkow.com/category/135153/video-landing-page?clipId=10147744&topVideoCatNo=123758&autoStart=true
http://www.wkow.com/category/135153/video-landing-page?clipId=10147744&topVideoCatNo=123758&autoStart=true
Thanks again!
Let's continue to stand united to Bring Back Our Girls.
--Emilie Songolo (for Nia Enemuoh-Trammell, Lisa Peyton Caire, Adrian Jones, Selam Abeshawit and Linda Vakunta)
#################################################################################################
Join the African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year.
Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701 Phone: 608-258-0261
Email: [log in to unmask] Web: www.AfricanAssociationofMadison.org
#################################################################################################
*** Send email to the list: [log in to unmask] ***
*** Access AAM list archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/AAM.html ***
|