LONDON, UK
Oxford Circus, one of the busiest spots in London, turned into a powerful scene of sorrow, defiance, and unity on Sunday as thousands of Amhara demonstrators came together to call for international recognition of a genocide happening in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. Dressed in black to signify mourning, the protesters waved a variety of banners, placards, and portraits, each one echoing messages of pain and resistance. Slogans like “Stop the Amhara Genocide” and “Never Again Means Now” filled the air, accompanied by the Ethiopian flag and black flags of grief. For hours, chants and cries resonated through the streets, creating an atmosphere thick with both heartbreak and determination. Their message was clear: the world can no longer look away.
The demonstration, which ran from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, was organized by the Amhara Task Force in the UK, a coalition that includes the Amhara Community in the UK, the Birmingham Amhara Community, the Manchester Amhara Community, and London Fano. The organizers and participants, many of whom are part of the Amhara diaspora and advocates for human rights, aimed to shatter what they described as the international community’s “silence and indifference” towards the horrific events occurring in the Amhara region. They directly accused the Ethiopian government of committing widespread killings, forcing people from their homes, and launching indiscriminate drone attacks on civilians, framing this campaign as an effort to erase the Amhara people and their culture. Protesters urged the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and global human rights organizations to take immediate action to halt the violence, investigate war crimes, and impose sanctions on those responsible. “Every single day, Amhara mothers are forced to bury their children. Every day, families live in constant fear—caught in the crosshairs of a violent campaign that the world seems unwilling to acknowledge,” Worku Teshome, the director of London Fano, said, his voice shaking with emotion. “Today, we stand as the voice for the voiceless. We speak for the millions who have been silenced, displaced, and slaughtered in their own homeland.”
The atmosphere in the crowd was charged with a blend of fierce determination and deep sorrow. Demonstrators raised their signs, passionately denouncing drone warfare and state violence, with powerful slogans like “Abiy’s Drones: Terror from the Sky,” “UN: Investigate Ethiopia’s Drone War Crimes,” and “London, Your Silence Empowers the Killers.” Many held up photographs of victims—mothers, children, and elders whose lives were tragically cut short. The organizers made sure to highlight specific, horrific incidents to drive home the gravity of their claims. “This isn’t just a political protest,” one organizer emphasized. “It’s a moral outcry—a cry from a people who have seen their children burned, their mothers mutilated, and their culture attacked simply for being Amhara.” The deliberate choice of words like genocide, war crimes, and mutilated underscored the extreme nature of the allegations they aimed to bring to the world’s attention. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the mood shifted from defiance to deep sorrow. The crowd moved quietly into Trafalgar Square, where thousands of candles flickered, transforming the area into a shimmering sea of light. A heavy silence enveloped the gathering as the stories of the Amhara people were read aloud—tales of women, students, farmers, parents, and children. Each word felt like a fresh wound; each flickering flame, a heartfelt plea for remembrance. Many wept openly, while others stood still, their candles trembling in their hands. “Their blood cries out for justice,” one speaker proclaimed, tears streaming down their face. “And until justice is served, we will not rest.” The candlelight vigil became a poignant conclusion—a powerful reflection of shared grief and an urgent call for justice that echoed through the night.
The vigil wrapped up with a moving Prayer of Conscience, paying tribute to the lives lost—civilians, children, martyrs, and heroes—who gave everything for their communities. It was a heartfelt plea for justice, a call for moral bravery, and a sincere remembrance of the pain that should never fade from our memories.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Respect for the London Fanos
‘ትኩስ ሠበር ዜና’:- Only the Ethiopians in Ethiopia decide what they want, elect who they want, run Ethiopia the way they want, and chart their own destiny. NO ‘Diaspora’ crap!
1). Irony of the Millennium (!?): When the Self-Appointed Amara Fannos kill soldiers, it is Amara Heroism/Patriotism. However, when the Army retaliates and kills some Egypt’s Proxy Thugs in Amara Hats, it becomes “Amara Genocide”! Very Funny! Good Luck with that!
2). Election Amnesia [!?]: The last election in Ethiopia was held under on-site poll station scrutiny by AU/UN/EU/US/etc. [As requested by the then over 100 opposition parties!]
Hence, the Amaras in the Amara Zone [AZ] went to the polls & elected their Amara leaders [as the other 85 ethnics did]. So, are these ‘Amara Demonstrators’ saying “The Amaras in AZ had no clue why they went to the polls & elected their Amara leaders”?
3). Crocodile Tears of the ‘Ethiopian Diaspora [ED]’ for Amaras & Ethiopia: Over 70% of ED were the servants of the former self-appointed tyrant regimes. Most also happen to be Amaras [especially from Gojjam & Gonder]. They are also mostly the same Amaras who made Ethiopia “The World’s Poster Child of Poverty & Famine” and fled Ethiopia.
4). Election | Government Term: Abiy’s Party was elected for a 5-year term. So, let the elected officials serve their 5-year term. Anyone who hates Abiy’s Government should run in the upcoming election, win the election, and lead Ethiopia! No shortcut! No BS!
5). Domestic Terrorism [DT] | Domestic Terrorists [DTs]: Insurrection to topple elected governments anywhere in the world is DT. Aiding & abetting DT is DT, too. So, DTs are legitimate law enforcement targets! Amaras are no exception!
6). Solution: Respect the tenure of the democratically elected Amara leaders [elected by the Amaras in AZ]. NO →whining, disinformation/misinformation, or shortcut to power!
You are entirely correct in your assessment. It is imperative that individuals or groups who endorse the violence and killing of citizens from other ethnic members cease such actions.
This pattern of behavior resembles the ongoing conflict witnessed over the past 2 years in Tigray, where similar practices have perpetuated suffering. All those involved in these conflicts are our fellow Ethiopians, whether aligned with Fano or ENDF. This divisiveness must come to an end.
Everyone must refrain from encouraging senseless violence or fueling war hysteria, especially when one group advances, seizes territories, and causes harm to innocent people of any other ethnic member (Ethiopian). Let us strive to foster unity, urging all to stand on the side of history that upholds peace, harmony, and national solidarity. It is vital to recognize that all people are members of the same nation and equal deserve respect and protection.
—–Stop Ethiopian genocide-no more war in Ethiopia—-