Mary's
Ethiopian Orthodox Church located in Aurora, Colorado. Deacon Yoseph
was raised in Ethiopia and has experienced the daily struggles too many
Ethiopians have faced living in abject poverty under an oppressive
government. Deacon Yoseph fled from Ethiopia in 1976 and came to the United
States as a refugee. He and many of the members of the Ethiopian
community in my congressional district of Colorado, including the Oromo
and Amharas, have worked diligently to organize and assist those still
suffering from repression in their home country. Oromo community president of Colorado, Jamal Said, has also shared
his concerns with me, and both of these gentlemen have no motives other
than a concern about the safety and state of democracy in Ethiopia.