Sudanese residents march through downtown IC to protest killings
Lang
12/25/18
Members of Iowa City’s Sudanese community marched through downtown Iowa City Monday to protest killings in their home country.
Dozens of Sudanese Iowa City residents walked down Clinton Street to the Pentacrest, where they rallied in front of the Old Capitol.
Amnesty International says it has “credible reports” that Sudanese police have killed 37 protesters in clashes during the anti-government demonstrations that erupted last week across much of the country.
It said the use of lethal force by security forces against unarmed protesters was “extremely troubling”.
A coalition of independent professional unions has called for a march on the presidential palace in Khartoum to submit a petition demanding that President Omar Bashir, who rose to power in a 1989 military coup, step down. Two of Sudan’s largest political parties called on their supporters to take part.
The protests began last Wednesday, initially over rising prices and shortages of food and fuel, but later escalated into calls for Bashir to go. The government has acknowledged fatalities during the protests but gave no figures. An opposition leader said over the weekend that 22 protesters were killed.
Many of those at Monday’s Pentacrest protest held signs calling for Bashir’s ouster.
