About 200 Charlottesville community members gathered at the Free Speech Wall on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall Saturday to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis devastating Afghanistan. The rally included speeches from student speakers and a member of the Afghan community, a shared moment of silence and a march through the Downtown Mall.
Upon the United States’ withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in early July, the Taliban — a foreign terrorist organization — overtook the country, leaving Afghan men, women and children under dangerous and regressive conditions.
The Taliban first arose in Afghanistan in 1994 following the removal of the Soviet Union from the country in 1989. By 1996, the group took over the country and implemented strict Sharia law, a body of Islamic religious rules. Under the Taliban’s implementation of Sharia law, the terrorist group confined women to their homes, forced them to abandon their jobs and restricted access to medical care while also conducting routine public executions.
The rally was organized by Spogmay Mohammad Asif, a third-year student at Piedmont Virginia Community College with Afghan roots. Compelled to speak up for her people, Asif collaborated with the U.Va. Afghan Student Association, Muslims United and Charlottesville community members to coordinate the event.
Organizers said their intentions were to “come together to raise our voices against the brutality of the Taliban” and to encourage members of the Charlottesville community to pressure representatives to aid the Afghan people.
Charlottesville is home to a substantial refugee population that includes many who have fled from Afghanistan. The International Rescue Committee in Charlottesville is providing support to Afghan Special Immigrants, which includes those who worked with the U.S. as interpreters and are now fleeing the country, and offers information on how to help Afghan evacuees in Virginia on their website.
Neala Loynab, vice president of the Afghan Student Association and third-year College student, said the intention of the rally was to raise awareness about the crisis in the University and Charlottesville community and also to “let the Afghan families in Charlottesville know that they have a community here and that they are supported.”
The event opened with remarks from Wanna Wardak, president of Afghan Student Alliance and fourth-year College student. Wardak lamented the Western media’s coverage of Afghanistan, which she said often portrays the nation as a violent, war-torn place, rather than one of humanity.
“It feels as though all that Western media has shown of Afghanistan is war and misery,” Wardak said. “For us, we think of our parents’ homeland, a place filled with warmth, hospitality and humanity … a beautiful place with amazing people and a rich culture, despite decades of occupation by outsiders.”
Following Wardak’s speech, the Afghan National Anthem was played. Many rally-goers shed tears for their loved ones living in Afghanistan during such a perilous time.
Mahamad Asif Mahamad Kasem, a member of Charlottesville’s Afghan community, spoke in Dari — the political name for Persian dialects spoken in Afghanistan — and moved many participants to tears with his words. Loynab summarized his remarks for those who don’t speak Dari.
“The purpose of the government is to give the people a voice, an education, food and shelter,” Hidari translated. “There are over eight million people left jobless [and] homeless in Afghanistan. This isn’t how anyone should be treated. We’ve been stuck in a humanitarian crisis.”
The crowd then shared a collective moment of silence for all of those suffering in Afghanistan.
Breshna Haider, secretary of ASA and fourth-year College student, spoke next, highlighting the role the U.S. has played in the conflict. The Bush administration staged a massive invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, which killed almost 3,000 people and was planned by Al Qaeda — whose leaders were being harbored by members of the Taliban.
However, Western presence in Afghanistan predates 9/11. The U.S. and the Soviet Union both sought to gain footholds in the country during the Cold War, with the U.S. eventually funneling money to the mujahedeen to support the anti-communist movement.
“Forty years ago, the United States decided to interfere with foreign affairs,” Haider said. “That was most definitely not to help my country.”
Haider concluded with a call to action.
“No matter how small you think it is, your voice is powerful and it matters,” Haider said.
After ASA leadership spoke, fourth-year College Aleena Haidari shared a poem by Binazir Haidari entitled “The Political Puzzle.”
“Close your eyes and wait for my country to burn to ashes, and then send your prominent writers to dip their pens in debris,” Haidari read.
Flyers containing a QR code created by the United Nations were passed out to participants with actionable ways to help, in addition to Afghan flags and signs with messages such as “Sanction Pakistan,” “Ban the Taliban” and “Save Afghanistan.”
To get the crowd energized, organizers began a series of chants and call-and-response anthems, including “Save, save Afghanistan,” “Stop funding terrorists” and “Ban, ban the Taliban.” Led by the organizers, participants continued their chants while marching down the Downtown Mall. Onlookers stopped in their tracks to observe the energetic marchers.
Haider said she hopes the rally inspires others to recognize their responsibility to stand up for those suffering in Afghanistan.
“As a predominantly white institution, [students at the University] are not necessarily affected by everything that’s going on, so they’re living in their privileged little bubble,” Haider said.
To conclude the event, the Afghan song “Watan Ishq Man, Ham Watan Jan Man,” was played.
ASA has posted resources on its social media accounts, including organizations to direct donations toward and ways to educate oneself and others. ASA is organizing another Save Afghanistan rally on Grounds for Sunday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. that will involve the University community more directly. Information about the event will be provided through its social media accounts, including @asa_uva on Instagram and @AfghanStudentAssociationAtUva on Facebook.
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