THE DAY CNN NAMED ME INSIDE AFRICAS PERSON OF THE MONTH MAY 2005 transcripts.cnn/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/14/i_if.01.html MAKGABO: Hello again. Youre watching INSIDE AFRICA. Now our Person of the Month. Hes a leading human rights activist with a voice determined to be heard. Whatever it takes, hes gone the extra mile for his people. Susanna Gargeolo (ph) has the remarkable story of this young Liberian whos our first Person of the Month. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUSANNA GARGEOLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Murder is something no young teenager should bear witness to. ALOYSIUS TOE, RECIPIENT, REEBOK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD: I saw people executed right before my eyes. GARGEOLO: But Aloysius Toe it first became his reality when soldiers lead away a 16-year-old fellow student and executed her. Her crime, being from the wrong ethnic group. TOE: I saw that with my eyes. Imagine what it takes to see someone being shot in the head right before you. Then you watch the person, in grief, breathing his last. GARGEOLO: Since then young Aloysius has led a nearly decade long battle against injustice in Liberia. (CHANTING)GARGEOLO: The 27-year-old activists resume includes organizing marches against politically motivated murders, establishing civil and human rights groups, advocating against government abuse, and educating Liberians about their rights. His battles have put him through two prison terms and what he says was an assassination attempt by the government of Charles Taylor. TOE: Eventually in the course of Liberian history, Liberians are going to take their destinies in their own hands and tell the powers that be, No, you cant do this no more. GARGEOLO: Since the fall of Taylors government, Aloysius has expanded his mission from civil and political rights to also include social and economic. And his lifelong mission has now gained him the recognition of the outside world. Aloysius was honored this week as one of four recipients of the 2005 Reebok Human Rights Award for his significant contribution to that cause. It would no doubt be tough for anyone to argue this young Liberians qualifications. And for that reason, Aloysius Toe is INSIDE AFRICAs Person of the Month.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 18:22:26 +0000
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