SEATTLE — For Afghans living in Washington, the upheaval in their homeland is motivation for them to help in any way they can.
“I do believe that our community and our friends, we’re the voice of change, especially this generation right now, and I feel like we can make a difference,” said Sameer Mahan, a UW student who founded the Instagram account Afghans of Seattle.
Mahan and others are organizing a protest at 2 p.m. Saturday in Westlake Park in solidarity with Afghans, many of whose voices have been silenced as their country collapsed.
“I don't want this to be some kind of defeatist attitude that Afghanistan has collapsed, like it's over, it's done," said Ariana Siddiqui-Dennis, another protest organizer. "All that does is discredit all of the work Afghans are doing right now to resist."
Both are fiercely proud of their Afghan heritage and feel their country is often misunderstood, especially now, as people around the world watch scenes of violence and desperation.
“To see literally the place where your parents and your family grew up, for every generation before us, in so many ways be destroyed, it is draining," said Siddiqui-Dennis. "I think we can raise awareness, but I also don’t want people to be desensitized to all these depictions constantly in your face. That’s not the only way to raise awareness."
They say the demonstration is just the beginning of what they hope will be an enduring effort to help those who have been left behind.
“We want to advocate for aid as well as urging our representatives to allow refugees to come into our states, and finding them a new home, as well as just fighting for the future of Afghanistan,” Mahan said.