PEACEFUL RALLY CALLED BY ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA IN OKLAHOMA

For Immediate Release
Contact Person: Ato Muluneh Zeleke
Phone: 405-314-4560
January 3, 2008
SAVE THE DATE

FOR H.R. 2003

DATE: TUESDAY, January 22, 2008
TIME: 11:00 AM
ADDRESS: 1900 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Invited Guest Speakers: Senator Andrew Rice and Professor Ted Vestal

Senator James Inhofe Refuses to Meet with Supporters of Ethiopian Human Rights Bill

On November 13 and November 20, 2007, peaceful protests were held in front of Senator James Inhofe's Oklahoma City district office objecting to the Senator's strong opposition to H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007" H.R. 2003, is a bi-partisan human rights bill that passed unanimously from the U.S. House of Representatives on October 2, 2007.

Senator Inhofe has publicly admitted that he maintains a close personal friendship with Ethiopia's Dictator Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his wife. As Senator Inhofe's Oklahoma constituents who are concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Ethiopia, we requested Senator Inhofe meet with individuals and/or organizations that support H.R.2003, during his visit to Ethiopia.
http://www.ethiomedia.com/ace/protesters_address_senator_inhofe.html

A list containing the names of individuals and organizations who were victims of human rights abuses was given to Senator Inhofe’s district office in Oklahoma City in the presence of state Senator Constance N. Johnson (D-Oklahoma City).

Unfortunately, before meeting with any of the victims of human right abuse, Senator Inhofe chose to attack the Human Rights bill immediately upon arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in late November 2007: http://ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2007/Nov/29Nov07/44031.html

Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R.2003 invite fellow Oklahomans to join us in front of Senator Inhofe’s Oklahoma City office to protest Senator Inhofe’s refusal to meet with victims of human rights abuses in Ethiopia. We want to know why Senator Inhofe chooses to support a distant dictator and is UNWILLING to listen to us, his constituents?

A CALL TO ALL ETHIOPIANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA WORLDWIDE

We respectfully request that all Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia Worldwide to call/fax Senator James Inhofe’s offices and ask him WHY HE REFUSED TO MEET WITH VICTIMS OF GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DURING HIS RECENT 6-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ETHIOPIA???

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)