亚洲AV

Fighting for Bolivian democracy, Mason senior rises as a leader

Body

For 21 straight nights, graduating senior Yasser Aburdene spent his evenings protesting in front of the Bolivian Embassy in Washington, D.C., fighting for democracy in the midst of a controversial election victory by Evo Morales. He had no idea his advocacy would land him in the spotlight at one of the most historic sites for human rights.

The nightly protests earlier this fall made the Bolivian native familiar to organizers who staged a November rally. Representing the youth of his country, Aburdene was selected to speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a chanting crowd of 10,000 people, facing a bank of cameras, with a large Bolivian flag behind him.

Yasser Aburdene standing on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. His hands are in his pockets and he is wearing a red seater.
Graduating senior Yasser Aburdene spent his evenings protesting in front of the Bolivian Embassy and delivered a speech to 10,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Office of Communications and Marketing

鈥淎 lot of people my age forget where we come from,鈥 said Aburdene, whose speech focused on unifying Bolivia鈥檚 disparate races and reminded the audience that political change would come. 鈥淢y goal right now is to remind people that our parents fought for our democracy, our grandparents did this.鈥

The politically minded 24-year-old聽major aspires to one day run for elected office in Virginia and to eventually represent Bolivia as an ambassador. While he鈥檚 adopted the commonwealth as his new home鈥攈e鈥檚 lived in Virginia since emigrating with his father and brother at age 17鈥攈e remains passionate about Bolivian freedoms.

Morales resigned on Nov. 10, but there is still work to be done, Aburdene said. He will continue to protest for peace, stability and democracy, and he recently co-founded the organization聽, a bilingual news outlet focusing on Bolivian politics.

鈥淭he greater impact [of my advocacy] is showing people that there鈥檚 always something they can do,鈥 Aburdene said. 鈥淲e all have a purpose, so always engage with what you鈥檙e doing, always fight for what鈥檚 right.鈥

鈥淵asser鈥檚 work with the protest movement is a wonderful example of how Mason students are able to bridge the divide between classroom education and real-world political action,鈥 said聽, one of Aburdene鈥檚 professors at the聽. 鈥淗is activities are combining his passion and energy, his commitment to the future of Bolivia, and the skills and insights developed here at Mason.鈥

Mason was Aburdene鈥檚 first-choice college; he wanted to be near the action in Washington, D.C., he said. From influential professors to student organizations dedicated to making a difference, 鈥淚 love how Mason is always engaged with the community,鈥 Aburdene said.

His time at Mason has been action-packed. A member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, Aburdene is also a member of Mason鈥檚 College Republicans and the Young Americans for Liberty organization, and he volunteers with Americans for Prosperity. After his December graduation, the first-generation college student will look for work with local nonprofits as he gears up to study for a master鈥檚 degree and eventually a PhD, he said.

鈥淚鈥檓 passionate鈥攎y purpose was always to make a difference,鈥 Aburdene said, adding that his advocacy work never feels like a burden. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing something I love, and I鈥檓 doing something for the greater future of my country.鈥