The successful Kinijit fund raising in Boston last Saturday is putting the spotlight on Kinijit chapters in the San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland-San Jose) and Dallas, Texas.
The Kinijit delegation led by Vice President Bertukan Mideksa will arrive in the Bay Area next Thursday (Sept. 27) and Dallas (Sept. 30). Although it is said that Boston is Kinijit’s stronghold in the U.S., much more Ethiopians reside in Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area. So these cities must raise at least $50,000 each, or else the officials of the support committees may have to cough up the money themselves to reach the goal.
When the Kinijit leaders return back home, they face the monumental task of reorganizing the party through out the country. They cannot do that without money. As Americans say, “money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
It is encouraging that a very small Ethiopian community in Upstate New York has been able to raise $10,000 on Sunday. By that standard, the huge Ethiopian communities in Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area can easily top $100,000 each. But it would be great even if they are able to raise $50,000. That will put the delegation on track to raise over $1 million by the time it complete its U.S.A. tour.
The delegates will arrive at Oakland Airport on Jet Blue Thursday, September 27th at 6:00 PM. Ethiopians from the greater Bay Area will give them a heroes’ welcome.
The delegates will spend Friday taking a rest and meeting with representatives of community groups.
The main event [see poster], may be the largest Ethiopian political event in the Bay Area, is on Saturday. The Kinijit Oakland-San Jose chapter has organized a town hall meeting and dinner from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Place: Greek Orthodox Church, 4700 Lincoln Ave Oakland, CA 94602
For Information: (510) 575-7931
The renown journalist, artist and the host of Addis Voice Radio, Abebe Belew, from Washington DC will accompany the delegates to Oakland and Dallas. Ato Abebe Belew will be the MC for Saturday’s meeting.
Early Sunday morning, the Kinijit leaders will fly to Dallas, Texas. They will arrive at 11:30 AM. Kinijit Dallas representative Dr Aziz Hassan is urging Ethiopians in the Dallas area to come to Dalls-Forth Worth (DF) Airport, Terminal A, at 11:00 AM to welcome the leaders.
Dr Aziz told Ethiopian Review that Kinijit Dallas has invited Ethiopians from neighboring cities and states, including Oklahoma. Artist Abebe Belew will join the delegates in Dallas as the master of ceremony (MC), Ato Aziz said.
Ato Dejene Assaye, Kinijit Dallas-Fort Worth chairman, told Ethiopian Review that Kinijit supporters in the Dallas area are excited and eagerly awaiting the arrival of their leaders. On Sunday, DF Airport will look like Meskel Square during Timket.
A Grand Public Gathering
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007
Time: 3:00 PM to 8:00PM
Place: The Radisson Hotel
1981 N Central Expressway Richardson, TX 75085
For more info: 972 375 1334 or or 214 727 9995
Ethiopian Review will live live coverage of the events in both cities.