(Rachel Hawkins/NDG)
By: Rachel Hawkins, NDG Contributing Writer
Murder, rape, military dictatorship, and isolation from the rest of the world.
For the past couple of months, these are the injustices the Sudanese have endured due to their desire of just wanting a simple fundamental human right. Freedom.
On April 11, 2019, Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s President, was overthrown, ending his three years of dictatorship. While the Sudanese people believed their freedom had finally arrived, it was shortly taken away when the military council, in collaboration with the previous president took over. Thus, leading to the present day.
On June 9, a Dallas solidarity protest for Sudan was held at the Irving Convention Center. Dozens of Sudanese showed to give their support and want for a change.
“Unfortunately the Government has killed some people who are protesting against the military dictatorship,” said Rodwaan Saleh, a former Irving city council candidate. “We hope for a democratic government in Sudan. It has been continuously a military government that’s causing a lot of misjudgment. They did not govern the country the way it needs to be governed.”
The Sudanese community in Dallas includes an estimated 500 families.
“We are asking that the Sudanese government changes into a duly and rightfully democratically elected government,” Saleh said.
In an attempt to clear the sit-in on April 6, security forces killed 22 people in Sudan.
On June 3, over 30 people were killed when security forces attack protest leaders’ Khartoum sit-in at the center of the movement, opening fire, torching tents.
Since the June 3 massacre, the state of Sudan has implemented an internet blackout and media censorship. Observers believe this was done to isolate the Sudanese people and hide the truth.
“We have lost about 108 people in the last three days,” Salah Eldin Farah, marketing manager at a local transportation company said. “People are still in the street, but yet they have decided to demonstrate by having a sit-in (when people decide not to go to work, and close all of their shops).”
The government recently decided to talk with the Sudanese people.
“People decided not to go back,” Farah said. “This is the craziest revolution ever in Sudan. These people have completely decided not to go back. Either we get democracy, or we all die. Now, after what we have seen, the military regime is backing up, and wants to talk.”
Al-Bashir’s rule over Sudan is considered one of the most oppressive governments in modern history.
The international community and media have continued to ignore the issues.
“We would like for the U.S. government to start and support the people in the foreign policy,” Elsir Elhadi, President of the Sudanese Community in Dallas-Fort Worth said. “Unfortunately, the foreign policy in the U.S. is not supporting the civil transitioning government in Sudan. We want to make sure we’re supporting our families in Sudan. We’re sending them money and money. We have their voice.”
Elhadi said the previous dictator was supported by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
Regardless of the blackout, it is still firmly believed the Sudanese will continue to raise their voice and share their opinions by holding onto their dreams of freedom and maintaining their non-violent resistance.
But until their freedom comes, the protestors believe it is the responsibility of concerned Americans to stand up and give a voice to the voiceless. One way you can do this is by using the hashtag #IAmTheSudanRevolution.
#IAmTheSudanRevolution has been circulating around social media to bring awareness, especially throughout the international community, of the atrocities, the Sudanese are enduring.
