Twin Cities Liberian community celebrates Liberia's Independence Day
Liberians living in the Twin Cities are gathering this evening to observe their country's Independence Day.
Organizers say it's been a tough year for natives of Liberia. Pastor Harding Smith says the Ebola epidemic was especially difficult because even Liberians living in the U.S. had to deal with the stigma associated with the disease.
"We had Liberians that could not even afford to get a headache or a fever at a job. All eyes were on anyone that was from Liberia," Smith said.
Locally, he said, Liberians continue to mourn the death of Barway Collins, the 10-year-old Crystal boy who was murdered this spring.
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"This is something that really struck a chord within the Liberian community that they have not gotten over this yet," he said.
Collins was born in Liberia and moved to the Twin Cities in 2011. Collins' father Pierre, also from Liberia, has been charged in connection with the boy's death.
Harding says he still faces criticism from within the Liberian community for speaking on behalf of the Collins family, including Pierre, in the wake of Barway's murder.
The community's Independence Day celebration will be held tonight at 5:45 p.m. at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park, Minn.