The Struggle for Democracy in Ethiopia:

A talk by Dr. Berhanu Nega

Thursday, September 6th at 7:30 p.m.
New School for Social Research
65 Fifth Avenue, New York

Join us for a talk by Dr. Berhanu Nega, New School alumnus and mayor-elect of Addis Ababa.  Dr. Nega was held as a political prisoner in Ethiopia for almost two years, along with thousands of others in the current government's crackdown on dissent.  Recently released from prison, he is in New York to share his experiences at his alma mater, The New School for Social Research on Thursday, September 6th at 7:30 pm. at Swayduck Auditorium at 65 Fifth Ave.

The international community has largely condemned the state of affairs in Ethiopia.  United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour strongly criticized Ethiopia's human rights situation, calling it "worrying."  The recent release of 38 high-profile prisoners came just two days after a Congressional subcommittee approved legislation to end U.S. support for Ethiopia’s human rights violations.  Still many are held in jail, the media is censored, and the politically unstable Ogaden region in the East threatens to slip into humanitarian disaster as the government blocks aid workers and supplies from entering.

Dr. Nega will address his experiences working for democracy in Ethiopia in the face of a government that has repressed all opposition.  He will also address the role of the United States in the support of the Ethiopian government and the war in Somalia and what U.S. citizens can do to help.

Please join us on September 6, 2007 as we welcome Dr. Nega to the New York! The talk is free and open to the public.

Dr. Nega's talk will follow the New School convocation where President Bob Kerrey will confer on him the Distinguished Alumni Award that was given to him last year in absentia.

Sponsored by The New School for Social Research, Just Foreign Policy, and the FreeNega Campaign.

Questions? Contact info@freenega.org