Amid fear for family, Libyans in US take to streets

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Amid fear for those caught in the bloodshed in Libya, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Chicago Saturday to voice their disgust with Moamer Kadhafi’s deadly crackdown.

Dozens of protesters gathered in a downtown Chicago plaza on February 21 in support of a mass uprising to put an end to Moamer Kadhafi’s four-decade rule. . Amid fear for those caught in the bloodshed in Libya, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Chicago Saturday to voice their disgust with Moamer Kadhafi’s deadly crackdown.

Chanting “Libya, Libya don’t you cry, we won’t let your freedom die” and “Enough is enough, Kadhafi’s time is up,” they waved monarchist Libyan flags and stomped on posters of the grim-faced dictator.

“We were hoping it would be a victory rally, but he’s a madman holding the country hostage,” said Abdularahman Aduib, 20, a Libyan studying in Chicago.

Much of Aduib’s family is in the western city of Misurata and the last time he was able to reach them they told him mercenaries were patrolling the streets.

“It’s very frightening,” he said, and extremely difficult to be so far away.

“I feel guilty at a rally like this, when my hands get cold I want them to be colder because I feel I must sacrifice for my own country.”

Cars honked in support of the protesters as cold, wet snow fell on signs proclaiming “we stand with Libya” and “solidarity with our loved ones.”

“My brother was shot in the leg after the prayers on Friday,” said a protester who identified himself only as Hamza for fear of reprisal.

While his brother is recovering from the injury, Hamza said Kadhafi has gone too far and has killed too may Libyans to remain in power.

“Just leave and let us live our own lives. It’s 42 years,” he said in disgust.

His friend Emad, who also didn’t want to risk giving his last name, held a sign saying “my siblings are risking life, I can risk scholarship.”

“We’re trying to go back, but the airports are closed,” said Emad, 28, whose brothers have taken to the streets of Gharyan.

Mailik Triana, 25, was also frustrated that he could not get home to join the fight and help protect his family in Misurata.

“I spoke to my sister a couple hours ago and they’re still bombing,” he told AFP.

“For me, you have this excitement that Libya will be free, but it’s a feeling of helplessness because we can’t really do anything, so that’s why we came here.”