Darfur Protests update
Submitted by LSophia on May 1, 2006 - 11:49am.
The Seattle Darfur protest went very well yesterday. The most impressive thing is that it was almost entirely youth-run, mainly high school students, although one poised sixth-grader spoke as well. I hope she runs for public office some day. It was a pleasure to hear so many passionate, caring, well-spoken teenagers. Sadly, no public officials attended - we had both a rabbi and a minister from the Seattle Church Council, both of whom were very eloquent. The most moving speaker was a young man from Darfur itself, who thanked "Americans" for caring and getting involved. We're been getting such a black eye on the world stage lately, it was wonderful to hear some praise for a change.
The march itself was fairly quiet. Darfur needs a slogan or a song, because the chants didn't really work very well. Once we got to the federal building, the students participated in a symbolic "die-in" to represent the thousands of the dead, culminating in a ten-second scream meant to indicate the "breaking of the world silence." It was very effective.
They handed out "Action Plans" - I have one, which I can post or mail if anyone is interested. Attendance was estimated around 500. Here are some links for more information:
Media accounts
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002963874_darfurmarch01m.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/268577_darfur01.html
About the Darfur Genocide:
• www.unsudanig.org
• www.hrw.org
• www.doctorswithoutborders.org
• www.savedarfurwa.org
• www.millionvoicesfordarfur.org
Any chance that you can post their action plan, here?
for making the effort to protest and bringing the report to us! It is so wonderful to read that so many of the people marching were young students. I am thrilled that they are aware and motivated in this direction.
Way to go, LSophia!
Reg, this is hopeful news! (Hope she sees this.) I love to see- not only more youth involvement- but at the organizational levels as well. Encouraging, thanks LSophia for making my day a little bit brighter even though it's on such a tragic subject matter....
GenWhatever recruit? LSophia, we're doing CCN series blogs by categories / topics -- and one is Generation Whatever with about activities of the under 35 crowd. If you're interested in being involved, contact person is RegNYC here on the blog. She's around now I think-- you can ask her if she needs any more team members. You look like you're in that group! ; )
Here is the action plan. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Eight Ways to Take Action to Stop Genocide in Darfur!
1. Call your Representative and Senators and invite them to call President Bush and urge him to take action.
2. Write a letter to your Representative and Senators.
3. Call Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and ask her to take every step necessary to stop genocide in Darfar. (202) 647-4000
4. Call President Bush and ask him to work within the UN for a multinational humanitarian intervention with a mandate to protect the people of Darfur. (202) 456-1414.
5. Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper when you see articles about Africa, especially when you see articles on Sudan. In your letter, describe the importance of a multinational intervention to stop genocide and call on world leaders to take action.
6. Invite a leader in your community (or do this yourself!) to author an Op-Ed for your local paper on the importance of US leadership to stop genocide in Darfur.
7. Host an event in your religious community, school, club, or local association to fundraise or increase awareness. For more ideas, see www.africaaction.org
8. Encourage your school or workplace to Divest from Sudan. For tips on divesting investments, see www.genocideinterventionnetwork.org and look at their divestment packet.
I have call and letter scripts, if anyone is interested. You can find your members of congress at www.congress.org
...to see the youth get involved.
When I saw Wes speak at UF, there were quite a few questions on Darfur. I think young people are more aware of what's going on over there than many in the older generations.