According to New York City Parks Police estimates, about 200-250 Gambians and
concerned friends of Gambia, started emerging from all directions [subway,
buses, cars and a family flew in from Pittsburgh, PA] to express their utter
dismay, anger and frustration surrounding the April 10-11 massacre of 13
Gambian school children and a journalist/red cross volunteer, by paramilitary
punks/death squads. Faced with an early drizzly/chilly morning and a few
logistic snafu; late arrival of slogan-placards and an oversight on the NYC
Police 'permit to assemble from 7am-10am' Instead of 7am-12pm, as advertised
on our fliers, demonstrators greeted UN Diplomats with handout fact sheets,
petitions and slogan placards, such as: YAHYA JAHANAMA MUST GO, BY ANY MEANS
NECESSARY, WHILE IN CUBA, MY PARAMILITARY BOYS MASSACRED 13 SCHOOL CHILDREN &
1 JOURNALIST/RED CROSS VOLUNTEER...HA! HA! HA!, SENEGALESE AGAINST TYRANNY IN
THE GAMBIA, INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WORKERS MOURNS OUR FALLEN COMRADE [OMAR
BARRO], YAHYA, WHAT HAPPENED TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY? ETC.. ETC.
Around 10.15am, about 40 NYC police officers escorted the peaceful and well
organized marchers for the 15 minute walk to the United Nations Dag
Hammarskjold Plaza Park, where a variety of speakers, ranging from
concerned/outrage Gambians, victims of torture [by
NIA/PARAMILITARY/AFPRC/APRC THUGS], PanAfrican activists, ex-NIA/ARMY
OFFICERS, ETC. As more protesters arrived, about a dozen parents lovingly
excusing their children from school for the event, the message got louder and
clear: WHAT DO WE WANT, JUSTICE FOR OUR CHILDREN? WHERE DO WE WANT IT,
GAMBIA? WHEN DO WE WANT IT, NOW? STOP THE KILLING AND RAPE OF OUR CHILDREN.
REPEAL DECREE # 98. IF GAMBIANS CANNOT LIVE, THEN YAHYA WILL NOT RULE! At the
conclusion of the protest, Gambians were urged to be vigilant and focused,
not to be sidetracked or scared off by coconspirators and rabble rousers, but
to keep educating, agitating and organizing. The echo of Gambians abroad
organizing under one umbrella was clearly welcome, as it's time to be
activists instead of following the reactionary lot. The next meeting will
focus on the big march in Washington, DC, on Memorial weekend. Will continue
with the posting after videos and photos are processed.
JAMMEH MUST GO.
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