Rally Held In Nashville In Solidarity With #EndSARS Movement In Nigeria

• Nashville, rally held in Solidarity with Nigeria #EndSARS

With the spotlight on Nashville this week as the city hosted the final presidential debate, At-Large Council Member Zulfat Suara hoped to use her seat in the debate hall to bring attention to a movement unfolding thousands of miles away in Nigeria.

Across her KN95 mask, she scribbled the message: #EndSARS.

“I bring my American, Nigerian, immigrant, Black, Female and Muslim, self to my one seat.

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If you are any of these, you are represented!” she tweeted that night.

At-Large Council Member Zulfat Suara and organizers lead rally Saturday in support of #EndSARS movement in Nigeria.

Debate fanfare over and national and international media having left town, Nashville is once again quiet.

But for a few hours Saturday, music blared at the Legislative Plaza downtown where more than a hundred people gathered in solidarity with protests happening in Nigeria.

Suara led the crowd in singing the Nigerian national anthem, then in chants calling for justice in the country, where people have took to the streets demanding the disbandment of SARS the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad a police unit that for years has been accused of massive abuses, including torture and killings.

“We are with you,” said Suara, a Nigerian immigrant, as organizers behind her waved the country’s green and white flag with the Tennessee State Capitol in the backdrop.

“Tell our legislators to help us. That’s our children back home. Help us amplify their voices,” Suara said.

The hashtag #EndSARS, first started in 2017 as Nigerian activists brought awareness to SARS’ human rights violations, is trending in recent weeks after a video circulated of a man being beaten by officers.

Even after the Nigerian government agreed to disband the unit, protests are continuing to grow across the country with a larger rallying cry against police brutality in Nigeria, as well as demands for officials to address other issues.

Events escalated when Nigerian police this week allegedly opened fire at protesters demonstrating in Lagos at Lekki Toll Bridge.

Amnesty International reports at least 56 people have died during two weeks of widespread demonstrations.

Saturday’s rally in Nashville began with a moment of silence for the lives lost.

Many held signs with the words “Justice For Lekki” and “No more SARS. No more SCARS.”

“It’s personal,” said Richard Owoyemi, a Nigerian-born computer programmer.

“Everybody has direct or indirect experience with SARS and know what they are capable of.”

Organizers gave the opportunity Saturday for the crowd to come up to share their own encounters.

One spoke of being taken from his home by officers who had their rifles drawn, as he was about to take a shower.

Janet Alaka, 63, recalled a moment when she was visiting Nigeria 15 years ago, when she was detained unnecessarily by officers as soon as she landed in the country.

Her two kids, 2 and 14 at the time, were left traumatized.

Her eldest, scarred by the experience, still doesn’t want to go back for a visit, the Nigerian-born Nashville resident told The Tennessean.

“It’s ‘Do or Die,'” said Alaka, calling change long overdue. “I’m here to support the youth’s efforts there to finally make that happen.

They are taking it upon themselves to fight … when our generation has failed them.”

Organizer Kelechi Anuna said what’s happening in Nigeria should be of concern to people in the United State and across the world.

“The Nigerian fight is universal,” he said.

The rally Saturday was held in the same space where several demonstrations took place this summer, with activists in Nashville and across the country, decrying racism and police brutality in the United States.

Anuna, a Nigerian American who grew up in Nashville and attended McGavock High School, plays professional basketball for the Nigerian national team.

There, he said he’s targeted by officers who’ve pulled him over, trying to extort him for money.

Here in America he’s discriminated against by police as well but for being a Black man.

“We left Nigeria because of this, only to be met with police brutality here too,” Anuna said. “Where do we Nigerians go?”