Bolivian president Evo Morales today in DC: a Black president in the US is a sign of change

Evo Morales honors Abraham Lincoln and African American heroes at the Lincoln Memorial
Photo Reuters

Suddenly the first snow of the season fell into the streets of DC. I was walking really fast in order to get to the Lincoln Memorial, where Bolivian president and Indigenous leader Evo Morales was scheduled to be. This was a very emotional moment for me, as I saw president Morales walk by on his way out.

Tonight's presentation of Bolivian president Evo Morales at American University was amazing! He spoke for over an hour and 15 minutes with the full attention from the over 600 attendees, who filled two auditoriums and some students were waiting outside in the cold.

Evo Morales is an authentic leader, a good man, someone who is making history.

My first time ever wearing a Press badge in a Presidential event was very exciting - and I had the chance to shake Evo’s hand at the end of his speech - no photo to prove it but hey, I recorded a video, to be posted in a few and with more comments.

Morales, who is a Quechua-Aymara Indigenous man, talked about his experience as a Native man growing in segregated Bolivia, as a farmer and a community leader, as a politician and as president of a country that for first time has an economic surplus that is being invested on the Bolivian youth and elderly.

Morales also announced that by the end of 2008, Bolivia will be declared free of illiteracy.

His testimony was very touching, and he assure his intentions to reunite Bolivia, a nation that is facing racist division attempts: interest groups are pushing for some regions to secede from the Andean nation. He also vowed to work for a better relationship with the US and praised the fact that Americans have elected a Black president, "that is already change" he said.

Early on, Morales was at the Lincoln Memorial where he placed a beautiful floral wreath honoring Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and all the African American leaders who have fought for equality in America. My friend Nestor will provide with a video this weekend.

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Tomorrow!

If you are planning to attend any of these two events, be there early and don't bring bags. Security measures were very tight this evening at the AU - and the crowds filled the limited spaces. President Morales will return to Bolivia after tomorrow's program.

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Wednesday November 19

Press conference at the OAS

10:00 AM

Organization of the American States
17th Street & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20006

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Native American ceremony honoring
Bolivian President Evo Morales
(Aymara-Quechua)

1:00 PM

National Museum of the American Indian
Potomac central rotunda
Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20560

Directions:
The NMAI is located on the National Mall
between the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum and the U.S.
Capitol Building.






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