Dear Eritrean community,

Now that we have been given an early Independence Day gift, the vindication of our Sophie against Mr. Gadi's baseless accusation, let me congratulate Sophie and Karl Olson, her defense attorney, on a job well done! As we all know, Eritrea is where she is because of her sons and daughters who legally and fiercely defend her values. Those values of maintaining its political independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacrosanct to all Eritreans.

However as most good things in life, such gifts do not come free as “manna from heaven”. Or to use a contemporary idiom “There is no free lunch” and as such, we know that she must have incurred legal expenses.

We have therefore opened up a “Legal Defense Fund” account at Bank of America, to help pay for the expenses incurred to clear her good name. In addition, although the case was dismissed in California, Mr.Gadi may file another baseless suit in some other jurisdiction. We need to be ready to retain legal counsel to defend Sophie if that happens.

If you would like to help, you can send your contributions to:

Bank of America

Sophia Tesfamariam

Legal Defense Fund

Account number: 435016356915.

You may also use PayPal to make on-line contributions using Sophiefund@gmail.com

Or mail your contributions and letters to:

Sophia Tesfamariam

P.O. Box 3309

Reston, VA 20195

Berhane Alazar