A small band of protesters — many originally from the Middle East — gathered at the state Capitol on Sunday to call for an end to the reign of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The group waved signs and chanted anti-Assad slogans as traffic flew by on Lincoln Street. Some drivers honked their horns to show support.
“I support our people in Syria that are being killed and tortured just because they said, ‘Enough with this dictatorship,’ ” said Libyan Ezzedin Fitouri, 52, of Castle Rock, who came to the United States from Tripoli in 1978.
Assad’s grip on power has been under attack since an uprising erupted in March.
The United Nations estimates that more than 2,600 people have died in the resulting conflicts. Arrests run into the tens of thousands, according to The New York Times.
Some of those participating in the demonstration said they wanted to raise awareness among Americans of the desperate situation.
“I hope the American people see us and listen to us,” said Syrian native Steve Alnemi, who has lived in America for 22 years. “We want Obama’s help and the American people’s help to get rid of him.”
Alnemi’s 15 year-old son, Michael, said he spent two years in Syria.
“Whatever (Assad) says, people don’t listen to him,” he said. “This just popped. People couldn’t handle it anymore.”
Eman Osmen, 22, an Egyptian, said she came to the demonstration to show solidarity with the Syrian people.
Osmen was in the U.S. during the uprising in Egypt that led Hosni Mubarak to resign as president.
“I couldn’t do it with my country, so I want to do (this) for Syria,” she said.
Tim Calahan, 48, of Denver, said he visited Syria, where his grandfather lived, about a year ago.
“The Syrian people are a very welcoming people,” he said. “I think we need to do something to get Bashar out.”
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
