Hundreds of Yemeni Americans along with U.S. Congressman John Conyers protested against the regime of Yemen President Ali.

DEARBORN — Hundreds of Yemeni Americans were joined by
members of the Michigan government in raising their voices in protest and
resolution in front of Dearborn City Hall Sunday, April 17 at 2 pm. The group
chanted and waved banners and signs, just days after thousands of protesters in
al Hurriya Square in Taez were attack by Yemeni security forces with gunfire
and tear gas.  In addition to the
650 protestors who suffered from the effects of tear gas, four were killed and
116 were injured in the gunfire.

Those at the Dearborn protest were not only announcing their
concerns as to the situation in Yemen, but celebrating the fact their words of
protest were heeded by the local government.

“We are watching the events in your country and we are
concerned,” said Congressmen John Conyers to the protesters. Conyers
compared the movement in Yemen to the civil rights movement that took place in
the 1960s in the United States. He promised to show the same conviction that
African American civil rights leader Martin Luther King showed in the 60s when
he addresses the President in regards to the circumstances in Yemen.  “We think that the sooner things
change, the better. We are going to ask our Governor Synder and the White House
to conduct an investigation into what is going on and alert the public.
Everyone.” 

The crowd cheered at Conyer’s words, as this protest was one
of many in a series that spanned from Hamtramck and Dearborn all the way to
Washington in an effort to get results.

“We are trying to do our best to send a message and
(ensure) that everyone hears it,” said Dr. Nigeeb Obaid, one of the
organizers. “We have been all over the place, letting others hear us and
see what is going on in Yemen.”

In addition to the rallies, members of the local community
spent time meeting with local governmental officials about their concerns. The
organizer sent letters and notes to government officials outlining what is
occurring overseas. Conyers and Debbie Dingell, wife of Congressman John
Dingell, promised that these memorandums would be seen by President Obama.

“What’s happing in the Middle East is important for
democracy everywhere,” said Debbie Dingell.

“We met with them and told them come today and as you
see they come and express their feelings peacefully,” said Ali Baleed
Almaklani, executive director of the Yemeni American Benevolent Association.
“It is important to alert our country as to what is going on. What we need
over there is change peacefully, and then to build a democratic regime.”