NSU to Hold Candlelight Vigil for Yacob Haile-Mariam,Former Professor Detained in Ethiopia

Norfolk, VA - In an effort to raise awareness about Yacob Haile-Mariam, a former Norfolk State University professor and political prisoner of conscience in Ethiopia, various NSU student organizations will host a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center. The Rev. Kirk Houston will speak and the NSU Gospel Choir.

When the May 2005 election in Ethiopia was promoted by the Ethiopian government as the first democratic election in the country's history, Haile-Mariam, affectionately called "Dr. Yacob" by his former students, retired from his NSU faculty position early to run for a parliament seat in Ethiopia, his native country. Prior to running for a parliament seat, Haile-Mariam served the United Nations as a prosecutor in the Rwanda genocide and was active in international law and conflict resolution.

Haile-Mariam became a member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the main opposition party in Ethiopia, which gained strong and widespread support from the public. Despite the threats to his life and various forms of harassment, Haile-Mariam won his race by a landslide against an incumbent member of the ruling party. On October 31, 2005, the government arrested Haile-Mariam and other CUD party leaders, all of whom may face execution. The Ethiopian government has since imprisoned thousands of protesters including children, women and journalists.


For more information, call 589-2085, email e.t.jones@nsu.edu  or visit http://www.freeyacob.com .

Contacts: Sharon R. Hoggard or Misti Goodson
Phone: 757-823-8374 or 757-823-2119

Email: srhoggard@nsu.edu  or mgoodson@nsu.edu