Pro-democracy Ethiopian American activists wearing “Free Teddy” T-shirts braved the biting cold Saturday night in front of the DC Armory concert hall for Teddy Afro’s performance in DC. The activists were asking Ethiopians coming to watch Teddy Afro to sign a petition designed to pressure the U.S. State Department to call for Birtukan’s release. This petition has been developed in concert with the international human rights organization Amnesty International .

The activists wore white “Free Teddy” T-shirts to remind Ethiopians of the condition the popular singer was in just a few months ago, and to reflect the wish of millions of Ethiopians that one day “Free Birtukan” T-shirt will become redundant too.

The many young Ethiopians flocking into the Stadium Armory where the concert was to be held stopped to sign the petition and exchange a few words with the activists despite the extreme chill of the winter night. A huge number of petitions were collected, adding to the continuing petition drive taking place at Ethiopian churches, restaurants, other venues and also online , to make sure that the United States government understands how strongly Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans care about the single mother and foremost pro-democracy leader who is in prison under poor conditions, because she would not duck and did not want to let the Ethiopian people down. The United States government can use its strong weight on the Ethiopian rulers and show that it cares about democracy, if there is any sign that Ethiopian Americans themselves, living in freedom and thus able to freely express themselves, show that they care about their country.

The petition drive continues, until a very substantial mass of petitions is collected and can go to the State Department, as a strong message saying “Ethiopians with the freedom to act to press for Birtukan’s release, will fully use their freedom to act.”