Okili Celebration for Citizenship in Sebastopol

Come and party with
Okili Nguebari on Feb 27, 2010.
Finally, some good news amidst all the bad, here we have a diamond in the rough, the coming of the light like the end of winter darkness; after nearly 30 years Okili is FINALLY FREE!

As of today, Okili has been officially accepted into the Amnesty Class Action Law suit, NWIRP vs. USCIS, giving him his actual Temporary Resident Visa. This is a triumph after a long battle that began last April 20, 2009 when he was abducted by 6 ICE agents in front of his home and taken away from his American wife of 23 years and two American born children to a remote detention facility in AZ for 3 long months. Within another 18 months he will be eligible to apply for and receive his Permanent Resident Green Card or Citizenship (his choice). Either way, he is finally free to leave the country, free to visit his family abroad, something he could never do for the past nearly 30 years; because if he left the country, he would not be allowed back in. He no longer will have to consider reopening his 26 year old overstay of Student Visa case; something he and his family feared could drag things out for years.

The main purpose of this fundraiser is to pay the balance of legal fees owed Okili’s fantastic and extremely patient Attorney, Ms. Florence M. Ndedi who has been patiently standing by, although most of her successful work on our case has been completed. Although funds were raised in two prior events (FREE OKILI and HE’S HOME), some substantial funds went to lawyers that were unable to help us. Thank goodness we were lead to the right person who helped us honestly and professionally, at last.

In addition to raising the needed legal funds for Okili, partial proceeds will also be raised for The Committee for Immigrant Rights of Sonoma County which is a part of the Reform Immigration for America Campaign. The event is Co- sponsored by The United Africa Club and the Sebastopol Community Center, both non-profit.

GROUPS PERFORMING AT BENEFIT

Onye Onyemaechi (Nigeria) w/ Mendozone (World Beat)
Midnight Sun (World Beat)
Amadou Camara (Guinea)
Kim Atkinson w/ Carnival Spirit (Brazzilian)
African Dance Ensemble (mixed)
Massango Constant & Okili Nguebari (Congo)
Olembe Nguebari (Conscious Rap)
Jalahn Travis (rising child star)
Drummunity – Coordinated large Drum Circle at end of evening