On One Year Anniversary Of Arab Spring, Philadelphians Hold Vigil For Murdered Syrians
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's the anniversary of the Arab Spring--the day a Tunisian fruit vendor lit himself on fire and sparked change within the Muslim world. And to mark that anniversary, more than 100 protesters held a vigil on Sunday in Old City at the People's Plaza.
The demonstrators handed out hundreds of sheets of paper, each bearing the name of the one the children reportedly murdered by Syrian Authorities.
Hazem Hallaka is one of the protesters. He says his adult brother, a physician, was also a victim of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
"He was very smart guy, he came here to attend to attend a meeting. He goes back and they kill him. He was my little brother. I grew up taking care of him," Hallaka said.
Hazem also says he wants Philadelphians to realize that these murders don't just affect Syria.
"It's really not an Arab issue, not a Muslim issue, it's a human issue," says Hallaka.
