By Amadu Massally, USA.
saloneamadu@gmail.com
It was a kind of chilly afternoon in New York City as we congregated on 8th Avenue to begin a peaceful march last Friday of about 12 blocks - one way - to the Daag Hammarskjold UN Plaza.
We did not have thousands of people present, but we had a few hundred who were committed to the cause. What attracted me more than anything is the way people looked at us as to whether they were suspicious of us as carriers of Ebola, or were empathetic to our struggle, or whatever else. But that did not phase the movement of Africans, largely Sierra Leoneans, Guineans and Liberians that plowed through the city chanting Ebola must go, Ebola kills, and Ebola is a curse, in response to the announcer who held a mobile PA system.
We got there, we presented, and we left an impression because now we have been asked to meet with other key players in the city of New York. I even had to extend my stay.
I am personally pleased to see the African Diaspora get a voice in all of this as that has been glaringly missing. Everyone else talks on our issues, but us. We need leadership in the African (not only Sierra Leonean) Diaspora and it is a new challenge we will put on our plates.
Below is a video clip sums up my participation in all of this and why I think it is important for us to continue advocating and asking questions of the international community.
Let me know if you have any question and/or comments, particularly with regard to how you can join us in this effort.
Comments