Approximately 500 Yemeni Americans and metro Detroit residents came out in solidarity with the peaceful Yemeni revolution on Friday, October 7, 2011. The event was named “Friday of Solidarity with the Youth Revolution in Yemen” which mirrored the great Fridays held in Change and Freedom squares in Yemen. It was held at the soccer field of the Ford’s Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan. The event featured a Friday sermon by Sheikh Abdulrazak Alsayed and Friday Congregation prayer, that was led by Sheikh Ahmed Aljebri. In addition, the attendees paid tribute to the martyrs of the revolution and performed a prayer on behalf of their souls.
Sheikh Alsayed emphasized that injustice and terrorism by the current Yemeni regime will soon be abolished by the peaceful demonstrators who have given everyone hope for a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to treating its people equally. Sheikh Alsayed asked the attendees to do their best to support the peaceful revolution in all possible ways; mainly by supplicating to God Almighty that He gives victory to these young men and women in the streets of seventeen provinces in Yemen. He also condemned the abuse of Sharia by some; called “Association of Yemeni Scholars” who have disgraced their position in giving a “fatwa” (decree) to ban peaceful demonstrations and justify the war crimes carried out by the current Yemeni regime.
The day of this event coincided with great news to the revolution in Yemen from Norway in which Tawakkul Karman, a lawyer, journalist, human rights activist, and one of the revolution’s leaders was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize award. Sheikh Alsayed praised her courage and congratulated the Yemeni people on this prestigious prize which symbolizes the respect of the world to the Youth Revolution in Yemen.
The crowed, men and women, listened to a press release read by Yasmine Hassan, a University of Michigan-Dearborn student and a community activist. “Silence must be broken and Justice in Yemen must be achieved,” she affirmed.
Afterwards, a subcommittee of the Popular Support Committee held microphones and chanted with the attendees against the silence of the international community and the horrific crimes against the peaceful protesters.
Many Yemeni American community members in Michigan have been supporting the Yemeni Youth Revolution since its start back in February and this event by far had the largest attendance. The supportive events are being held by the Popular Support Committee to the Youth Revolution in Yemen, Michigan chapter.