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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm Activists Rally for US Action Against Sudanese Genocide |
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Celebrities, activists rally for Darfur
Demonstrators want U.S. action to end genocide
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thousands of people joined celebrities and lawmakers at a rally Sunday urging the Bush administration to use its political muscle to help end genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.
"Not on our watch," the crowd began chanting as a parade of speakers lined up for their turn on a stage on the National Mall, the Capitol serving as a backdrop.
"The personal motivation for a lot of us is the Holocaust," said Boston-based Rabbi Or Rose of Jewish Seminarians for Justice. "Given our history and experience, we feel an obligation to stand up and speak out."
The organizers' permit estimated a turnout of 10,000 to 15,000 for the rally, one of several planned in U.S. cities over the weekend over what the United Nations has termed the world's worst humanitarian disaster. (Watch the death, disease and despair in Darfur -- 2:03)
The U.S. Park Police, which does not issue crowd estimates, reported no arrests. "It's a large crowd. I think they have a really good turnout," Sgt. Scott Fear said.
"It is the socially responsible, good conscience thing to do," said Ron Fisher, who took a pre-dawn bus from Cleveland with his 15-year-old daughter Jordyn to attend the demonstration. "It' an opportunity to show my daughter what people do when they care about something."
The event attracted high-profile speakers from the worlds of screen, athletics, religion and politics: actor George Clooney, just back from a trip to Africa; Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois; House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California; Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel; Olympic speedskating champion Joey Cheek, who donated his bonus money to projects in war-torn Darfur; and Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington. (Watch actor George Clooney tell the rally about his trip to Sudan -- 2:5)
Refugee Hassan Cober said he was forced to leave his family and flee Sudan four years ago after many were killed and raped in his village. He urged the U.S. and the United Nations to act quickly, saying he had no idea where his family was or if they were OK.
"We need deeds, not words," said Cober, who now lives in Portland, Maine. "They need to come to Darfur today, not tomorrow, because what is going on is a disaster."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a broadcast interview, noted developments Sunday in Nigeria, where Sudan's government said it was ready to sign a peace agreement to end the bloodshed. Rebels, however, expressed reservations and pressed for an extension to talks with a deadline from the African Union looming.
"Obviously a peace agreement would be a very important step forward in getting this done," Rice said on ABC's "This Week."
"I don't know if they will extend, but there clearly has been some progress, and the United States has been one of the most active states in doing this," she said.
Sudan has indicated it might accept a U.N. force in Darfur to aid African Union troops if a peace treaty is signed.
Years of fighting between ethnic groups and Arab militias in western Sudan have left at least 180,000 people dead and about 2 million homeless. Amid the talks, the plight of 3 million refugees in Darfur has worsened. The U.N. World Food Program said Friday that it was cutting rations in half, citing a lack of funds.
President Bush met with Darfur advocates at the White House on Friday and lent his support to the weekend rallies. "For those of you who are going out to march for justice, you represent the best of our country," Bush said.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/30/us.sudan.ap/index.html
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Pictures of Sudanese Genocide[GRAPHIC]:
http://www.darfurgenocide.org/darfur.php
Other Websites:
http://www.darfurgenocide.org/index.php
http://www.savedarfur.org/
Although I am not a big fan of Clooney, I am completly on board with this. It is really disgraceful and embarrassing on our part to see how little we have done, and a huge tragedy on the victims part.
Last edited by Puck on Sat May 06, 2006 8:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:53 pm |
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 Am I agreeing with George Clooney!?, 'cause I think the President's right in giving his support to these rallies--we need to do something there, before it's too late.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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magenta
Commander
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 404
Location: AUSTRALIA
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| Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:29 pm |
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I read on Oprahs website 13 letters from women who had been beaten raped,sometimes over and over.Watching their families murdered,raped and beaten in front of them.Children watching their mothers get raped,sisters and grandmothers,aunts get raped.
One woman watched her husband beaten and killed,his stomach cut open to ensure he was dead.Then her 3 sons die the same way!She was taken and kept as a sex slave and raped for months! 
Something has to be done!I am looking into organisations in australia that are doing something about it.I hope the world will do something too! 
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WeAz
Commodore
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 1519
Location: Where you aren't
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| Mon May 01, 2006 7:43 pm |
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Finally!
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon May 01, 2006 7:46 pm |
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If only the illegal immigrant protestors and boycotters would have done this, we'd have a lot more prominent of a response, especially if tons of people aren't going to work and stuff. That would really send a message.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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