Mauritanian refugees, many of them recent arrivals from the Southern border of the United States, who have relatives in Ohio, embarked on a peaceful demonstration at the Ohio Statehouse on Friday, June 16, 2023 calling for US sanctions against the Mauritanian government for repressive crackdown of protesters in their country. 

The refugees from the majority black Arab nation appealed to the U.S government to extend to them Temporary Protected Status, TPS which are currently being enjoyed by countries in crisis like El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Ukraine and Nicaragua. 

Community leader and chairman of the New African Immigrants Commission, Ibrahima Sow said, “21st century apartheid against a majority black citizenry is the current reality in Mauritanian. The American way is to defend and protect those yearning for freedom, regardless of their origin.”

“State and local resources need to be marshalled for this recent exodus of asylum seekers in search of dignity and freedom, and congress should again consider TPS protections for political dissidents that are sure to be imprisoned or killed for exercising their human right to speech. The African diaspora of Ohio stands with these residents and echo their voice.”

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