SEATTLE – Libyans living in Western Washington are doing their part to bring revolution to their homeland. From viral videos to street protests, there is a network actively trying to topple Moammar Gadhafi's regime.
Local tech entrepreneur Mazin Ramadan is quietly working a behind-the-scenes information campaign, creating web sites, spreading videos of the uprising and coordinating with his two brothers in Tripoli who were believed to be among the throngs surrounding the Ghadafi compound Monday night.
"The clear message, which is a statement that's shared by a lot of these guys is 'We will die for our freedom. This is it," said Ramadan.
And that is very real possibility. Rita Zawaida runs Caravan-Serai, Inc., an agency in Seattle that books tours in Northern Africa and the Middle East. She got word Monday from friends overseas as Libyan fighters started turning their weapons on their own people.
"It's bad and without having any media there, nobody is able to get any of the information," said Zawaideh.
Also a political activist, Zawaideh has been watching the anti-government protests closely. She broke down in tears when she heard reports that Gadhafi was bombing protesters in Tripoli.
"I think Gadhafi will die before he steps down," said Zawaideh.
A large rally at Westlake Center in Seattle brought about 100 people in support of the Libyan uprising.
"(Gadhafi) is going all the way to the last bullet, to the last person or last thug that he has in the streets and we need the whole world to know this and to stop it," said Libyan immigrant Rashid Bseikri.
All of the demonstrators are calling for a stronger U.S. response to Gadhafi's use of military jets to quell the uprising, calling for a NATO enforced "no-fly zone."
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