Murder of African immigrant sparks conversation about bigger community issue
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A day after an African immigrant was shot dead while sleeping in his bed, community leaders are saying his death is shedding light on a bigger community issue.
Tuesday morning, five bullets went through a home on the corner of Cecil and Greenwood avenues. Zemenfes Tekle, a native of Ethiopia, was sleeping inside when he was killed.
Community leaders said it's yet another case fueling tension between the African-American community and the African immigr ant community.
Other cases in recent years include the 2008 death of Muhammad Abul Rahman, an immigr ant from Sudan, who was killed inside his store New York Fashions, and the 2012 shooting of 4-year-old Halima Bakar. Her family is from Somalia; she was shot during a fight between two men.
PREVIOUS STORY: Coroner names immigrant killed by stray bullet in sleep
Many of the Africans in Louisville come here for a better, and safer, life.
"Most of the time we are running because we are afraid of being killed," Burundi native Victor Eddie said. "It's sad when someone comes here (and) dies like that."
Eddie is also a part of an organization called New Hope International. He said he's seen the tension between the African-American and African community for years.
"There is different culture and misunderstanding between two groups," Eddie said.
Activist Christopher 2x said the divide exists in the housing projects where Africans and African-Americans live side by side, but with very different lifestyles.
More From WAVE3.com
+ Children found living in home with guns, marijuana-growing operation
+ Trump team will not handle security during NRA Louisville stop
+ Local high school teacher accused of DUI, arrested in her driveway
"Some blacks who live in the neighborhood essentially all their lives would mock (Africans) as far as their clothing wear or some of their cultural practices," 2X said. "This could lead to tension. Some of the young blacks would feel some of the Africans wouldn't understand their struggle."
Lavel White said he saw how Africans were treated when he lived in the old Sheppard Square housing complex. He said many were harassed for
their speaking a different language, and for the way they looked.
"The kids make fun of that and don't understand that they don't dress like them," White said. "That was a big barrier they were facing in the school and community."
2X said there is a lot that African and African-Americans can learn from one another. He said both need to realize they are more alike than they are different.
Copyright 2016 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.
