Ethiopian Olympic marathon medalist fears for his life after human rights protest at finish line

I was watching the Olympic marathon on Sunday morning  as Feyisa Lilesa approached the finish line after a grueling 26.2-mile run.

Lilesa was running in second and on his way to a silver medal in the world’s most prestigious marathon. Only Eliud Kipchoge was better than Lilesa on Sunday.

Lilesa kept looking behind him as American runner eventual bronze medalist Galen Rupp was nipping at his heels. But he was also doing something else — something that likely will affect the rest of his life.

Lilesa was crossing his hands over his head in the sign of an X. At first, I assumed it must be some sort of victory symbol. NBC’s commentators missed it completely as well.

Turns out Lilesa was making a bold and extraordinarily brave protest against the government of the nation he was representing in the marathon.

 “I have relatives in prison back home,” he said.

“If you talk about democracy they kill you. If I go back to Ethiopia maybe they will kill me, or put me in prison.

“It is very dangerous in my country. Maybe I have to go to another country. I was protesting for people everywhere who have no freedom.”

Human rights groups say that Ethiopian security forces have killed scores of people in recent weeks as authorities crack down on a wave of anti-government unrest in two key regions, central-western Oromia and Amhara in the north.

His act of bravery did not go unnoticed.

The world just witnessed the bravest act of #Rio2016 in #FeyisaLilesa. Some background on his protest https://t.co/KuZwWka8rI#OromoProtests

Here is the Washington Post version of the story:

For months, the Oromo have been using the same "X" gesture that Lilesa, 26, used at the finish line.

At a news conference following the race, he reiterated his defiant message.

"The Ethiopian government is killing my people, so I stand with all protests anywhere, as Oromo is my tribe," Lilesa said. "My relatives are in prison and if they talk about democratic rights they are killed."

It was a remarkable turn of events — within seconds, Lilesa had gone from a national hero to a man who might not be able to return to his home country. In addition to those killed, many Oromo protesters are currently languishing in prison.

There were the inevitable comparisons to 1968, when John Carlos and Tommie Smith shocked white America when they raised their fists in a black power protest on the podium of the 200 meters event at the 1968 Olympics at Mexico City.

This is the equivalent of the 1968 Black Power salute in Mexico City, but riskier. If he returns to Ethiopia, Lilesa could be jailed.

I was watching that day so many years ago in 1968 and I can safely say that it was an extraordinary act of courage — especially considering the shitstorm they knew would hit them.

But as electrifying as that 1968 protest was, neither Smith nor Carlos was in danger of being killed or jailed upon returning to the United States.

Lilesa, on the other hand, likely can never return to Ethiopia. He will need political asylum.

Here’s hoping he finds it in the United States — and that four years from now in Tokyo he competes in the marathon wearing the red, white and blue.