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ERITREAN AMERICANS IN LOS ANGELES AREA CELEBRATE BAHTI MESKEREM
AND LAUNCH A PETITION CAMPAIGN About 200
Eritrean Americans attended an event marking the 46th anniversary of
Bahti Meskerem in Los Angeles, California (USA) on Saturday, September
22, 2007. The main highlights of the event, which opened with the traditional
observance of a minute of silence honoring Eritrean martyrs and the
singing of the national anthem, included a brief statement by a representative
of the organizing committee underlining the historic significance of
Bahti Meskerem and the reading of poems in Tigrinya and English befitting
the occasion. The celebration
coincided with the launching of a petition campaign aimed at urging
the US Department of State
to reverse its decision to close the Eritrean Consulate in Oakland,
California, desist from putting Eritrea on the "State Sponsor of
Terrorism" list and play a positive role in expediting the demarcation
of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Several participants made
passionate remarks in support of the petition campaign and emphasized
both the urgency and need for a united stance and several others volunteered
to help with the campaign. The famous
Eritrean star, Dashim Mesgina, accompanied by keyboard player, Mehari
Eyasu, entertained the enthusiastic gathering with his old and new traditional
musical hits. Los Angeles-based singer, Habtom Debessay, too delighted
the crowd with a song. Organizing
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