American
musician and activist Alicia Keys
of the We Are Here Movement, Kechie’s Project, and United Nations Women held a
rally in front of the Nigerian House October 14 to commemorate the 6-months
anniversary of the abduction of over 200 school girls by the militant sect Boko
Haram in Chibok, Nigeria.
American musician and activist
Alicia Keys of the We Are Here Movement, Kechie’s Project, and United Nations
Women held a rally in front of the Nigerian House October 14 to commemorate the
6-months anniversary of
the abduction of over 200 school girls
by the militant sect Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria.
“Most of us, myself included, are here today
because we really need to keep the flame burning on this issue. We are not
going to let it go away,” said Evon Ruth Idahosa, one of the #BringBackOurGirl
campaign organizers. “And it’s not an anti-government movement, we are actually
pro-government. We are just really trying to get the government to do what they
took an oath of office to do, which is to protect life and liberty.“
Professor Mojubaolu Okome of the Political
Science, African, and Women’s Studies department at Brooklyn College also
expressed her sentiments.
“We want to remind the Nigerian government
that it’s their job to rescue the girls, to bring them to their families,” said
Okome. “We also want to remind the Obama admin that it’s promised that it will
help the Nigerian government to rescue he girls.”
With her prominent husband rapper Swizz Beatz
by her side, the singer and the packed crowd, chanted “Bring Our Girls Back” as
pedestrians passed by. Keys especially, increased the volume of her voice every
time, as if she wants the message to get across more clearly.
“The most unfortunate part is that people,
wealthy Nigerians, wealthy Americans, or wealthy anyone, wouldn’t even be here
at this time, to remind people about what is going on, and it is terrible,”
Keys said. “We have no idea what they are going through right now. It is not
right that they have to go through this. It’s not right that they’ve been taken
from their families and that their families do not know where they are or when
they are coming back is a tragedy.”
The #BringBackOurGirls movement is said to be
losing momentum since its inception in early May when the girls were first
kidnapped. Activists however, feel contrary.
“It’s a matter of justice, it’s a matter of
life, death,” said Idahosa. “We are going to continue to pray, but we are going
continue to fight, we are going to continue to lift our voices.”
To conclude the occasion, the protesters
chanted the slogan, “The People United, Shall Never Be Defeated.” Some also
shared a message with the world.
“This is an issue of humanity, so I’m proud
to say that we are also in solidarity with the mothers who are marching on the
presidential palace of Goodluck Jonathan” Keys said.
“It’s a matter of justice, it’s a matter of
life, death,” added Rev. Dionne P. Boissiere of the Church Center for the
United Nations. “We are going to continue to pray, but we are going continue to
fight, we are going to continue to lift our voices.”
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