Feyisa Lilesa crossed the finish line in the Olympic marathon on
Sunday in Rio winning silver for his country and crossing his wrist
above his head showing solidarity with his people protesting a brutal
regime.
Feyisa later told journalists that he was showing the
crossed wrist in solidarity with his fellow countrymen and women who
were killed daily in his home country. "I was protesting for my people,"
Feyisa was quoted by several media outlets as saying on Sunday.
He crossed his wrist high in the air one more time at the podium and
told the crowd that more than a thousand people were killed in just nine
months by the ruthless regime back in his country for demanding basic
rights.
He told the press that he knew his actions would not be
seen lightly by the tyrannical regime and he may face death or
imprisonment if he were to return home.
"If I go back to Ethiopia
maybe they will kill me. If I am not killed maybe they will put me in
prison. [If] they [do] not put me in prison they will block me at
airport," he was quoted as saying by several international media
outlets.
The silver medalist said he might consider moving to
another country. "I have got a decision. Maybe I move to another
country," he told journalists.
Feyisa also ceased the opportunity
to remind Western allies of the tyrannical regime that their support
was enabling the killings in his country.
“It is a very bad
government. Now America, England, France support this government when
they give this support it buys machine guns then they kill the people,"
said Feyisa who is now in the hearts and minds of Ethiopians fighting a
ruthless regime.
0 comments:
Post a Comment