Ethiopian-Americans led an anti-Islamic State rally at the Capitol on Monday, a third day of mourning and protest for tougher U.S. action after the beheading and shooting of 30 Ethiopian migrants in Libya.
But as speakers pointed to how rapidly the Islamic State is spreading, some in the crowd of 150 wrestled with limits of military power.
“You can’t bomb everybody. It’s not a simple solution,” said software developer Ashenafi Admassu, who emigrated in 1997. “In Iraq, there’s still war. This isn’t something we can win by war. Local people need to be involved — Libyans.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who attended , spoke again at the rally. It also attracted exiting state government employees, a Rastafarian and leaders of a pro-Israel group.
“Until we stop terrorism, we’ll all have a chance to be victims,” Americans Against Terrorism activist Neil Dobrow said.
Ethiopian-Americans staged a similar rally in Washington, D.C.
Horrific videos of the beheadings, circulated on the Internet, seem to have triggered “an awakening” among Ethiopian-Americans who, after fleeing Cold War-era persecution as refugees, have focused on building families and businesses, said Lydia Olaore, a home care administrator.
“This is like coming into new territory, making a stand,” she said.
