The Refugee Dream Center celebrated World Refugee Day with song, dance, food, poetry and visits from elected officials.
"We have over 65 million people displaced around the world," said Omar Bah, Founder and Executive Director of the Refugee Dream Center. "Most of the time it's because of war and conflicts, suffering that is caused by human beings." 22 million out of the 65 million people displaced are registered as refugees, so 40 million are unaccounted for. Of those 22 million, less than one percent are settled out of refugee camps.
"America used to resettle most of these people," continued Bah. "Until about one or two years ago. And we know what happened. An average of 100 thousand people used to come to America every year... but last year that number dropped to 53 thousand. This year we are expecting between 19 or 20 thousand."
As to America's policy of separating refugee children from their parents at the border, Bah, an American citizen by choice, was unequivocal. "We cannot be quiet today, when America, the leader of the moral attitude of this world, is imprisoning and putting children in concentration camps within this country..."
"We cannot be quiet about it," continued Bah. "We cannot be silent. We want everybody, every moral voice to rise up and be heard and condemn this to the utmost breath, to make sure that this does not happen."
https://youtu.be/TH0OhKeKwc0
"It's great to see kids running around, having fun," said United States Senator Jack Reed, "and not - and doing it with their parents." Reed was very critical of the Trump Administration policy of separating children at the border and treating asylum seekers as criminals.
https://youtu.be/mOWCY1dda4o
"We should not forget that Rhode Island has a special responsibility because Rhode Island was settled by a refugee," said United States Representative David Cicilline, who recently visited the border to see the children locked away in cages. "Roger Williams came to Rhode Island because he was fleeing religious persecution."
https://youtu.be/WN8uPc175ZA
State Treasurer Seth Magaziner:
https://youtu.be/mQHR3XrN48Q
Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee:
https://youtu.be/y_JG1lSZnSc
Introduction:
https://youtu.be/EgeoM6UZAa4
Prayer from Pastor Rick Moore:
https://youtu.be/HlYRJYUCwFw
Prayer from Waleed Muhammad:
https://youtu.be/N9UllORdHDs
Fred Sneesby, State Refugee Coordinator
https://youtu.be/9HQxk1exLbA
Dance
https://youtu.be/nHvPeNVaZB8
https://youtu.be/2FMl47TvBAw
https://youtu.be/OjGHpVgSluw
Catarina Lorenzo from AMOR (Alliance Mobilizing Our Resistance):
https://youtu.be/QzrozSA-PBQ
Bernard Georges, New Bridges for Haitian Success:
https://youtu.be/JRDvxokcyj4
Senegalese Drummers:
https://youtu.be/MDt0Rv58X1A
Augustine Kanjia, Sierra Leonean/Gambian Journalist based in Worcester, Massachusetts:
https://youtu.be/VS33_52-C5U
Keith Cooper, Beautiful Day:
https://youtu.be/nYrPb-RdQl4
Drama sketch on domestic violence:
https://youtu.be/y2Yw3xYoqC4
Night Jean:
https://youtu.be/JNVxLq-PlOY
Sylvia Ann Soares read three poems by and about refugees. Background drumming by Marco McWilliams and the Senegalese Drummers. First up is "Lament for Syria" by Amineh Abou Kerech.
https://youtu.be/Rsl6Wkd8KOs
"Home" by Warsan Shire:
https://youtu.be/HAlKQ4vtBSM
"They Belong" by sweetjr05
https://youtu.be/88N1JlX7ylQ
Night Jean:
https://youtu.be/p2yIwR_GKWY
Mustafa Alsawaf:
https://youtu.be/UEo-6M1p9pc
Kamar Gure:
https://youtu.be/UAMs4tb9evE
Bowie a refugee from Burma:
https://youtu.be/HCwqMLqCC-Q
Mohammed Alsawaf:
https://youtu.be/IiVaPd3u4Ek
Sterk Zaza from AHOPE:
https://youtu.be/r7eqO-PMu5c
Music from The Chin Brothers:
https://youtu.be/TSmlnxO7wYY
DJ Low P:
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DJ Low P:
UpriseRI is entirely supported by donations and advertising. Every little bit helps: Become a Patron!