On Friday, October 7th at 12:00 PM, Yemeni-Americans supporting the revolution in Yemen, freedom supporters and activists will come together to the Soccer Field in front of the Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center to stand in solidarity with millions of courageous Yemeni citizens who are uniting their voices peacefully and for over 9 months now to demand the immediate DEPARTURE of the repressive Ali Abdullah Saleh and his regime.

Friday congregation sermon and prayer will be held as well as a prayer on the revolution’s martyrs. During this huge gathering, Yemeni Americans supporting the Revolution of the Yemeni people are calling the United States’ government and the United Nations to take firm actions toward the ruthless Yemeni regime. “Words are not enough, and silence must be broken” will be the motto of this event.

The Yemeni people are seeking fundamental change to a broken system for the chance to regain lost hope and dignity, the right to true democracy and justice for all. We strongly condemn and call for an independent probe into the continued violent tactics of the Saleh regime and the brutal, inhumane crimes committed against peaceful protestors. We fully support the peoples’ call for a peaceful transition of power.

Yemenis have been peacefully protesting throughout the country for the past 9 months now but their calls for change and justice have been met with murderous acts by Saleh’s security forces. Since the beginning of this uprising, acts by security forces, snipers, and sharp shooters have savagely murdered more than 400 Yemeni citizens and injured more than 9000! As we write this statement, the violence against innocent, peaceful, nonviolent, and unarmed protestors continues!

The Yemeni youths’ peaceful revolution also faces intervention from neighboring anti-democratic countries and silence and inconsistency by some of western countries and international media. This silence allowed the current dictatorship regime of Ali Saleh to commit ongoing crimes against humanity, and drive the country toward severe humanitarian and economic crises. These crimes have continued without any strong objection from the international community or true support for the people of Yemen. THE WORLD CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE SILENT.

Without urgent actions that would put an immediate end to the current regime - there will be more bloodshed, more suffering, and more innocent people will pay the hefty price of death for simply wanting “change” for their country, their fellow citizens, their families, and the generations to come. The lethal force against peaceful protestors by the regime is unlawful; it is a clear violation of fundamental and universal human rights, and it must be condemned and Saleh’s regime must be held accountable.

Today, Yemeni-Americans recall on the Obama administration and the international community not only to publically condemn the regime and “call for power transfer” but to also take strong actions against the regime’s violence. A decision to freeze Saleh’s assets and freeze all military aid to this autocratic regime must be made NOW. The U.S. and the international community should support the Yemeni people’s wishes for a new government and the immediate end of the Saleh regime. Also, the U.N. Human Rights Council must act with an independent probe into Saleh’s regimes’ crimes.

We believe that supporting peoples’ demands for peaceful transition of power is a crucial step toward a true democracy and will foster a better relationship between the people of Yemen and the rest of the world. Such an outcome will strengthen U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in Yemen and in the region.

We also call on the Obama administration and the international community especially the Arab Gulf countries to respect the Yemenis’ wishes and allow them the freedom of choosing and determining their next leaders and their own future.

Further, we urge the U.S. and the western media to come out of their silence and to expose the regime’s crimes against the peaceful protestors and give the Yemeni people and their struggle full and fair news coverage.

As Yemeni Americans we reaffirm our unwavering support and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in their peaceful protests, rightful demands, and admirable determination to meet these demands. We stand by their calls for justice and a true democracy.
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The Popular Support Committee for the Youth Revolution in Yemen - Michigan is an advocacy and solidarity group comprised of activists, professionals, students, and concerned Yemeni-Americans all uniting to support the peaceful revolution in Yemen and to see an end to violence against the protesters who demand freedom and an end to the vicious regime of Yemen's current president Ali Abdullah Saleh. More info at http://www.supportyemen.com