US Citizens Protest Against Disband of Peaceful Rallies in Belarus (Photo) 20:24, 26/03/2006
On Saturday, March 25, in Washington, New York and Saint Paul (Minnesota) protests against brutal breaking up of peaceful demonstrations in Minsk. A picket in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Washington was held. Except Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and Americans have taken part in it. The picket lasted from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For the day more than 40 persons were standing interchangeably in front of the Belarusian Embassy with streamers with slogans demanding from Lukashenka to stop repressions and release political prisoners. They were holding portraits of arrested activists of Belarusian democratic opposition, and streamers demanding free and fair elections.
In Washington participants of the picket were handing out the text of yesterday’s address of US President George Bush to the Belarusian people with congratulations on anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic’s proclamation. American citizens showed lively interest to the protest; they were coming up to the picketers to express their support personally, wished the Belarusians not to give up. Passing cars were giving honks as a sign of support. Most popular streamers were: “Lukashenka, The Hague is waiting for you!” and “Why only 83%? Saddam had 99.9%”
Many Americans know the situation in Belarus well. In recent weeks events in Minsk were widely covered by national and local mass media of the US. Yesterday the Washington Post published a detailed article about cruel and cowardly actions of Lukashenka’s henchmen who had liquidated a tent camp of protesters on Thursday night.
Though pickets in Washington are held every day starting from March 19, none of the workers of the Embassy dared to approach the picketers. As a rule, the “Belarusian diplomats” are trying to sneak into their cars while protesters were jeering to them. Picketers are scanning: “Freedom!” and “Disgrace!”
On March 25 nobody was in the Embassy. The US Department of State has been looking for Ambassador Mikhail Khvostov for the whole day, to hand him the note of protest against the actions of the authorities in Minsk. However, the Embassy representatives evaded phone contacts, which is a strange occurrence in diplomatic practice. Participants of the protest were trying to guess whether the Embassy would recovered from a tremendous fright on Monday?
As said by informed sources, the recent events on Belarus have caused indignation of a number of influential members of the US Congress. They are going to demand more resolute steps regarding Lukashenka’s regime.
About 40 participants have taken part in the picket on the stairs of Minnesota Congress in Saint Paul. It lasted for 2 hours.
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