The fourth annual Taste of Ethiopia festival in Parkfield Lake Park drew thousands of diners, about two dozen Ethiopian performers, a dozen newly-naturalized citizens and a ton or more of home-cooked African cuisine. And a few politicians dropped by, too.
Because Colorado is and Eritreans, the largest concentration in the east Denver metro area, the success of the fast-growing festival is no surprise.
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who represents the 6th Congressional District, spent hours at the festival, shaking hands and posing for pictures, reading a congressional proclamation honoring the event, speaking at the naturalization ceremony and accepting flowers and a suit of Ethiopian clothes as thanks for his efforts supporting the African immigrant community.
“Together we will build a stronger nation because of your belief in America,” he told the new citizens. “Being an American is not a culture. It’s not a language. Being an American is a shared set of values, a belief in individual freedom, a belief in individual liberty, a belief in economic opportunity. That’s what unites us as Americans. That’s what defines us as Americans.”
The Republican, who since his district lines were redrawn to include more immigrants, encouraged them to keep their language and culture, “so that the next generation of Ethiopian-Americans will know where they are from.”
Coffman from his party’s nominee, Donald Trump, who is not expected to be popular in the district with large minority and immigrant voting blocs.
Coffman’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Morgan Carroll, also spoke Saturday and thanked the organizers for their hard work in putting on the festival, preferring to stay apolitical in her address, her spokesman said..
Reached afterward, however, Carroll said Coffman’s “walk doesn’t match the talk” on immigrant rights, citing examples that included his previous
“Trying to figure out what Mike Coffman stands for is very tough,” Carroll said. “He’s very skilled at saying different things to different audiences.”
Political stakes aside, event organizer Nebiyu Asfaw said he was pleased with the fast increase in vendors, entertainers and attendees since the festival began in 2013.
“It’s been organic growth year over year,” he said. “People come here and have a good time, they learn about our culture and learn that our community is growing. But, also, over the past four years I think Taste of Ethiopia has contributed to our integration into mainstream America, and more and more people are learning about the Ethiopian community, our food and our culture and appreciating it.
“It’s amazing how much love we’re getting from people.”
