Violence across the globe brings some locals together

Violence Across the Globe Brings Some Locals Together
Updated: Monday, Nov. 21, 2005 - 5:14 AM
WASHINGTON - Election-related violence in Ethiopia is helping to bring the large Ethiopian community in the D.C. region together.
More than a thousand people gathered on Sunday to help raise money for relatives of people killed or detained in Ethiopia this month.
Demonstrators there had been contesting the May 15th election results that favored the ruling prime minister.
Census records show at least 15,000 Ethiopian immigrants live in the area. But community leaders say the number is much higher.
Many in the region's Ethiopian community are hoping their efforts will get the U.S. government's attention.
Last week, thousands marched from Capitol Hill past the State Department to the White House.
They want U.S. officials to pressure Ethiopia's prime minister to free political prisoners.
The Ethiopian government maintains that only people who incited violence have been detained.
(Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)