SELASSIE STAND UP CALL FOR ACTION STATUS UPDATE September 27, 2014 First and foremost, on behalf of Selassie Stand Up, Inc., I would like to thank all of you who have demonstrated your unwavering support and commitment to the SelassieStandUp.org project. As many of you are aware, the SelassieStandUp.org project calls for a statute of His Imperial Majesty (HIM) Emperor Haile Selassie to be built center front of the African Union (AU) building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The statue would be erected in commemoration of the Emperor’s unparalleled contributions towards African Unity and Independence, and, particularly, for HIM’s leading and formative role in establishing the AU, previously known as the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Prior to the Golden Jubilee of the OAU/AU, Selassie Stand Up, Inc. was and continues to be actively engaged in driving the SelassieStandUp.org initiative. As many of you may recall, on May 8, 2013, an article entitled “The OAU & Emperor Haile Selassie’s Rightful Place in History” was published on several Ethiopian news media websites. The article laid the historical facts, and served as the foundation upon which SelassieStandUp.org leveraged its call for action: For a statue of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie to be erected center front of the AU Headquarters building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After the May 8th letter, the SelassieStandUp.org call for action became a focal point of discussion amongst Ethiopians, African leaders and the broader African Diaspora. On May 11, 2013, only two days after the article was featured on various Ethiopian media sites, former President of Ethiopia, Girma Woldegiorgis, publicly responded to the SelassieStandUp.org call for action by requesting Prime Minister, and former Chairperson of the AU, Hailemariam Desalegn, to motion the AU Assembly to erect a statue in commemoration of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie. A day later, on May 12, 2013, SelassieStandUp.org, in an open letter, publicly thanked the then President Girma Woldegiorgis for his Excellency’s endorsement of the SelassieStandUp.org project. Five days later, on May 17, 2013, the Founder and President of Selassie Stand Up, Inc., Nebyat Aklilu Demessie, was interviewed on Voice of America (VOA), in which the SelassieStandUp.org call for action and related progress was explained. Continuing its grassroots efforts, and as a result of the Diaspora’s peaked interest in the SelassieStandUp.org project, on July 4, 2013, the Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America (ESFNA) invited the Founder & President of Selassie Stand Up, Inc. to present on the Emperor’s contributions towards the establishment of the OAU/AU. An extensive presentation was made on the Emperor’s role in establishing the OAU/AU as well as on HIM’s many efforts, contributions, and successful accomplishments in bringing about peace and stability not only in Africa but in other parts of the world as well. On July 29, 2013, in an address to a gathered assembly of esteemed leaders including family members of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, discussed why the Emperor is more than deserving of a statue, part of the former South African President’s address was broadcasted by Ethiopian Television (ETV). On November 3, 2013, Selassie Stand Up, Inc. was invited by Raiy Crafts, Iniversial Development of Rastafari (IDOR), a charitable community development organization setup by the Rastafarian collective in Washington DC, as well as the DC Office of African Affairs, to present on the SelassieStandUp.org project on the anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie’s coronation on November 3, 2013 in Washington DC. On April 17, 2014, CCTV released a segment on Emperor Haile Selassie entitled, “Haile Selassie: The Pillar of Modern Ethiopia,” in which the Emperor’s distinguished role in modernizing Ethiopia and establishing the OAU/AU is made evident. On August 3, 2014, at the Reggae in the Park annual event in Philadelphia, PA, Selassie Stand Up, Inc. networked with several influential members of the Rastafarian community. The event was hosted by the Mann Center of Performing Arts,which draws thousands of people from around the world on an annual basis. On August 24, 2014, Selassie Stand Up Inc. made a brief presentation regarding the SelassieStandUp.org project pursuant to a multimedia presentation on “The Majesty and the Movement” at Sankofa Books & Cafe in Washington DC. The Majesty and the Movement is an exhibition that explains why HIM was propelled on the center stage of the world in a struggle for justice strengthened by and through a central ideology of Pan Africanism with a focus on the African redemption, liberation and repatriation. The exhibit is a collaborative effort of the Rastafari Collective of Ethiopia, the International Rastafari Community and Exhibit Advisory Committee. The main exhibition was housed and featured at the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with satellite exhibits in Shashamene and Harar. The exhibition is currently on a global tour. Selassie Stand Inc. grassroots efforts will continue at the Ethiopian Day Festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 27, 2014, and in New York City on September 28, 2014 at the Q’damawi Haile Selassie Presentations, Networking, Film Festival and Live Performing Artists event. Given the widespread support and positive outlook, Selassie Stand Up Inc. on this 27th day of September, 2014, has sent an official letter to Ambassador Girma Birru asking for the Ethiopian government’s official endorsement of the SelassieStandUp.org project. Please find a copy of the letter below. We look forward to the Ethiopian government’s official endorsement of the project, and will keep you posted as we continue to make progress in achieving our objective of erecting a statue of the Emperor center front of the OAU/AU Headquarters building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Please visit our website SelassieStandUp.org and encourage your contacts to sign our online petition. Any ideas, suggestions or inquiries can be sent to selassiestandup@gmail.com.