Sierra Leone: UHRI urges people to join them in demanding an independent American Truth Commission.
March 26, 2021
By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) and Young Africa Inc., has in a press released on Thursday 25th March, called on all people of goodwill worldwide, especially people of faith to join them in demanding an independent American Truth Commission in order to counter the lie of white supremacy upon which the United States was built and has thrived.
The Rights groups made this call on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the enforcement of American Apartheid laws that limited U.S. citizens to only “white persons “ which initiated the worst dehumanizing experience of human history, the removal, colonization of non-white Americans in Liberia.
“On March 26, 1790, the very first Congress of the United States of America divided the country along racial lines by passing a bill signed into the world’s first American Apartheid laws, liming U.S. citizenship to only “white persons' ' This was the beginning of division in the United States and the beginning of the fall of the United States. Healing and uniting the United States must begin with mitigation of the laws enacted by Congress to remove and banish African Americans to Liberia and Native Americans to Indian Reservations across America,’’ the release reads.
According to the release, UHRI has launched an international awareness campaign with Liberian Human Rights Campaigner, Rev. Torli H. Krua calling on all people of faith to join the call for a TRUTH Commission and declassification of the 1990 cable that caused the death of many Liberians unlawfully denied visa to escape death, while other nationals, including Indian-born head of the Biden Malaria Initiative who were granted visas to travel to America and get refugee status and access opportunities and education denied Liberians.
“The immigration crisis on the southern border is only a symptom and not the root cause Vice President Harris referred to when she said “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.” The unprecedented recent events are a wakeup call for prioritizing the survival of the United States and our world– racial reckoning triggered by the death of George Floyd, the enormous sufferings brought on by Covid-19 pandemic, the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol and the unmitigated centuries of oppression and injustice against people of color, going back to the founding of the United States. In the intervening confusion and seemingly powerlessness, we agree with the scriptures; “Righteousness exalts a nation!” the right groups stated.
The Right groups added that even with the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act and the Biden renewal of work permits for Liberians, thousands of Liberian Refugees were still denied access to humanitarian assistance and permits to work in the USA since October 2002 stating that the crisis is exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 500,000 and infected over 28 million vulnerable Americans and deadly winter snowstorms ravaging America.
“UHRI invites you to join our call for compassion and equal protection of all Liberians across the United States. Kindly join us in asking President Biden to issue an Executive Order designating Liberia for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)-work permits. This action would immediately end decades of unnecessary suffering of Liberian Refugees in the United States during the past five administrations of Democrats and Republicans. Additionally, we are also asking Congress to modify the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act to include all 10,000 Liberian Refugees currently residing in the United States,’’ they Right groups urged.
They said on January 20, 2021, President Biden prioritized the plight of Liberian Refugees by signing an Executive Order renewing DED (work permits) for some Liberians stating that while this action is welcomed and demonstrates his compassion, the reprieve only renewed protection for a few Liberians already protected by DED/TPS since 1991, thus leaving thousands of vulnerable Liberian Refugees still unprotected under your watch! President Biden can prevent further Covid-19 deaths within the Liberian Community.
“In 2021, under the Biden-Harris Administration, relentless deadly snow storms left millions without electricity and heat! As the deadly Covid-19 Pandemic which has claimed over 500,000 lives and infected over 28 million mainly vulnerable Americans. Moreover, the United States has been generous to other similarly situated refugees from other countries. For example, while denying Liberian Refugees access to humanitarian assistance and permits to work, Congress passed a law in 1992 that allowed 52,968 Chinese nationals granted DED after the Tiananmen Square incident to adjust to permanent residency status. Later, in 1998, Congress also passed legislation that allowed 150,000 Nicaraguans, 5,000 Cubans, 200,000 El Salvadorans, and 50,000 Guatemalans to adjust to permanent residency status. Without justifications, Liberian Refugees continue to be denied the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter or permits to work under President Biden! Many members of Congress, including the late Ted Kennedy, advocated in vain for the Liberians while they were alive,’’
“Article 1 of the Liberian Constitution of 1824 is crystal clear; “ All persons born within the limits of the territory held by the American Colonization Society in Liberia, in Africa, or removing there to reside, shall be free and entitled to all the privileges, as are enjoyed by the citizens of the United States.” Even so, in 2021, Liberia is the 4th worst visa refusal country in the world next to Afghanistan and Cuba. The United States Embassy in Monrovia earns millions of dollars from Liberians denied visas to visit relatives in America. Every year, 22 million citizens from 39 countries enter the USA without visas under the American visa waiver program. Although Africans built America, not a single African country is among the 39 countries,’’ the release ended.
