By Cody Engdahl
NASHVILLE, TN — Hundreds showed up at a vigil along the Cumberland River on Sunday to stand up for the Ethiopian Christians who were executed by ISIS radicals because they would not convert to Islam.
Middle Tennessee has a large population of people of Ethiopian descent, many of whom still have family in Africa and in the Middle East, so for them, the threat is very real.
“ISIS is the cruelest, the worst group that the humankind has ever seen,” said Tewodros Tashu, who grew up in Ethiopia.
Tashu said he remembers a time when people loved each other as neighbors.
“When I was a little boy, we never had any distinction between Muslims and Christians. We grew up together without any differences, but right now, what’s going on is division,” he said.
Dary Hamz, who also grew up in Ethiopia, said the news of the killings was shocking to him.
“As a Muslim, it’s totally against what we believe,” he said.
Protesters said they hope that standing together here shows we can get past our differences.
“The only way this will stop, in my opinion, is if the people from all sides come together without going to the extremes,” Tashu said.
This was just one of many vigils held around the world. Ethiopia held three official days of mourning for the victims.
Read more and watch video at WSMV.com »
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Related:
Photos: New York Ethiopians Hold Vigil in Times Square for Victims of ISIL Violence (Tadias)
In Pictures: Washington, D.C Candlelight Vigil for Ethiopian ISIL Victims in Libya (Tadias)
Denver’s Ethiopian Community Mourns Countrymen Killed by Islamic State (The Denver Post)
In Atlanta Suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Christians, Muslims Honor ISIS Victims (WABE Radio)
Addressing Ethiopia’s Migrant Crisis (Tadias)
Grief Mixes With Anger Over Christian Ethiopian Deaths (NY Times)
Anti-ISIL rally turns violent in Ethiopia (AlJazeera)
Ethiopian police tear-gas crowds protesting against Libya killings (Reuters)
Protest held in Ethiopia over killings by Islamic extremists (AP)
Ethiopians struggle to come to terms with beheadings of compatriots in Libya (Reuters)
Ethiopians Shocked by Islamic State Killings (AP)
Ethiopia in Mourning for Victims of Islamic State Violence (BBC)
Ethiopia Declares 3 Days of Mourning for Citizens Killed by Islamic State in Libya (VOA)
Ethiopia Condemns Purported Executions in Libya of Christians (AFP)
Video: Islamic State kills Ethiopian Christians in Libya (AP)
ISIS ‘executes’ Ethiopia Christians in Libya (Al-Arabiya)
ISIS Video Purports to Show Killing of Ethiopian Christians in Libya (NY Times)