September 9th Rally Updates

September 20, 2006

On Saturday September 9, 2006, Africa Action held rallies and a nonviolent civil disobedience at the White House and the Texas State Capitol in Austin, TX to commemorate two years since the U.S. administration called the violence in Darfur, Sudan genocide. The rallies were part of Africa Action’s Darfur escalation strategy to increase pressure on the U.S. administration to lead the international community in advocating for a robust international force in Darfur. In Washington DC, hundreds of activists from the Washington D.C. metro area, and around the country, including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and North Carolina, called on the U.S. government to ensure that the current United Nations resolution to deploy peacekeepers to the Darfur region is implemented. In addition, Africa Action announced the release of the policy report, A Tale of Two Genocides The Failed U.S. Response to Rwanda and Darfur.

Speakers included Fatima Haroun, a Darfuri activist from the Darfur Rehabilitation Project, who just recently returned from a trip to Darfur. Ms. Haroun delivered personal accounts of the devastation and increasing violence in the region, and she emphasized the urgent need for an international intervention. The insightful spoken word artist Kom Plex opened up the rally. Speakers included Rev. Dr. Gloria White Hammond co-pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Massachusetts whose voice carried across the park “It’s about time!” Crispian Kirk International Affairs Director of the NAACP, John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group, Phil Portlock from Covenant Baptist Church, Washington DC, Lonzen Rugira Rwandese Africa Action Student Network leader, and Ann Louise Colgan Director of Africa Actions’ Department of Policy Analysis and Communications were also featured speakers. Attendees included students from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Bluffton University, Morgan State University, Howard University, New Hope Baptist Church of Philadelphia, PA, Canaan Baptist Church of Harlem, NY, Covenant Baptist Church of Washington, DC, the American Medical Students Association, and nationwide activists.

Attendees wore white t-shirts that had two red hands prints, Rwanda and Darfur was written under each hand. The statement of “A Tale of Two Genocides” was written across the top and “Send the UN!” on the back. After speakers fired up the crowd, a “die-in” took place on the White House sidewalk, which resulted in over thirty arrests. Africa Action board member Emira Woods led “die-in” participants to the White House sidewalk with chants that included “What do we want? Stop the genocide! When do we want it? NOW!” Those participating in the civil disobedience included students, activists from around the country, religious leaders, members of the Darfuri Diaspora, and executive directors of allied organizations. Click here to view the Washington Post article on the event.

During the arrests, the remaining activists lined up to make bloody handprints with red paint on a 12-foot canvas. Activists determined to make their mark in support; dipped their hands in red paint even when clean water and paper towels ran out. The event was cosponsored by the American Jewish World Service, NAACP, Darfur Peace and Rehabilitation Project, Unitarian Universalist Committee, the International Research Foundation, Sudan Peace Advocates Network, Darfur Peace and Development, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Armenian National Committee, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Damanga Peace Coalition. Several media outlets covered the rally including: NBC TV, Sojourners, WETA 90.9 FM, WJLA ABC7, and the Fox News Network. For pictures from the event click here.

Simultaneously over 100 Texans gathered at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, TX in solidarity with those gathered in the nation’s capital. Students, activists, and religious leaders came from all over Texas including Houston, Bryan, College Station, Dallas, Arlington, Sealy, and Austin. A 57-passenger charter bus brought Sudanese men and children who now reside in Dallas. Student organizations such as “Students for a Better Society” and “Global Justice” traveled from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Texas A&M in College Station.

As people gathered, signs were painted and distributed with “A Tale of Two Genocide” t-shirts. As the rally began, the participants adorned t-Shirts and raised signs for the entire duration of the event. To begin the rally, the band, “Rhythm and Soul” performed hip-hop music and had break-dancers warmed up the crowd. Artists and activists sang world peace songs “Rhythm and Soul’s” performance set the mood of peace and unity, helping to highlight the rally’s main objectives.

Speakers included Dr. Pam Maack, a professor of Anthropology at San Jacinto College. She spoke about her personal experiences in Africa. Wearing a a green Darfur bracelet, she shouted to that crowd that she looks forward to when she won’t have to wear the bracelet anymore. Also on the speaking agenda, Caesar Ricci with the San Antonio Interfaith Darfur Coalition gave an overview of the genocide in Darfur over the last three years. Ricci encouraged rally participants to call the President, their senators, local representatives, and to take an active part in the movement to end the genocide. Also featured was Noureldin Mohamed, a Darfuri who moved to the United States before the genocide began. Mohammed spoke about friends lost to the devastation. Mohammed’s accounts were an inspiration for attendees, and painted an authentic and vivid picture of his personal experiences with the genocide.

Following the speakers was an open mic period where all participants were invited to share their thoughts or points to reflect upon. Several people came forward to share their views on the urgency for an international intervention and the dire humanitarian crisis, including four Sudanese participants. Their words gave vivid accounts of the realities of genocide. After the open mic, everyone in attendance signed postcards to President Bush to “Break the Deadlock in Sudan.” The Capitol steps were covered with posters that read, “Real Texans Stop Genocide”. Act Up Austin, AFSC Austin, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Code Pink – Austin, Global Justice – TX A&M, and Results- Austin, cosponsored the event. Representatives from Act Up, Code Pink, Global Justice and Results attended the rally as well. For pictures from the event click here.

If you attended one of the rallies, and would like to give us your feedback, please contact us at mobilize@africaaction.org to tell us about your experience and the results you hope the rally will produce. We will post some of these responses on our website. Africa Action would like to send special thanks to all the volunteers who supported the event. We send regards to all the students who are currently walking across the country to raise awareness of the Darfur genocide. Click here to learn more about the Journey for Humanity at the following link, www.journeyforhumanity.com.

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