Today, I attended the Rally to Stop Genocide in Darfur, held in front of the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall. Unfortunately, I had to leave about an hour early from the event. Still, I had the opportunity to hear numerous powerful speakers and to feel the energy of a large and diverse crowd.
One of the most impressive speakers was Holocaust survivor, author, and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1986), Elie Wiesel. Based on my notes of what he said, certain key messages leap out:
*"Silence helps the killers, NEVER its victims."
*"I am ashamed" that we did not intervene in Rwanda.
*"When the Jews needed help [during the Holocaust], nobody came."
*"We need to take risks and stop the massacre [in Darfur]."
*"For the sake of OUR humanity, save Darfur!"
I also had the honor of hearing former Marine Captain Brian Steidle, who served as U.S. representative to the African Union's peacekeeping mission in Darfur from September 2004 to February 2005. While in Darfur, Steidle witnessed horrendous atrocities, including mass murder and rape. Among other duties, Steidle's job in Darfur was, as he described it, "to take photographs of genocide for 6 months." Imagine taking photographs, day after day, month after month, of genocide? It's mindboggling.
Now, Steidle is on a 21,000-mile speaking tour of 22 cities to help raise awareness among the American people about what's happening in Darfur. As Steidle said today, he'd rather be doing something else, but this isssue is far too important to stay silent about. Steidle concluded dramatically and powerfully: "I don't ever want to come to a rally like this and speak to people like you again."
Another amazing speaker was Paul Rusesabagina, whose story of heroism was the basis for the powerful movie, Hotel Rwanda. Rusesabagina spoke with a touch of anger about how, like Rwanda, "Darfur is also abandoned," and how "today, the whole world is standing by just as it did in Rwanda." In Rusesabagina's opinion, what we need to do is "stand up and fight...to help all those people in need." In other words, we need to do exactly what the world FAILED to do in Rwanda.
Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele (R) called for divesting $25 billion in Maryland state retirement and higher education funds from companies doing business with the Sudanese government. In my opinion, that's a tangible way to put pressure on the Sudanese regime. If not, as Steele said, "the world is watching again and the world is doing nothing." Obviously, that is not acceptable.
As I said, I had to leave the event a bit early. As I walked away, I could hear the Rev. Al Sharpton giving one of his patented powerful, emotional stemwinder speeches and getting the crowd totally fired up. Aside from Al Sharpton, the following words, spoken by a number of different people, are ringing in my ears as I sit hear now:
*"Too many times have we stood silent in the face of genocide."
*"This is the first genocide of the 21st century, and it will be the last."
*"The Sudanese government knows that you are watching...[the people of Darfur] know they're not alone. Stay engaged!"
*"It is in our national interest to confront genocide."
*"Today, every one of us is Sudanese."
*"We have the power, here in America, to say 'Genocide, Never Again!'"
Finally, I will close with the words repeated over and over by speakers from various religions - Evangelical Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Armenian Apostolic, Sikh, Unitarian Universalist. The words are these: "We are people of conscience and action, and together we can stop genocide."
P.S. Frank Wolf (R-VA) was scheduled to speak. I disagree wtih Rep. Wolf on much, but by all accounts he is AMAZING on the issue of genocide in Sudan.
P.P.S. I also missed Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and George Clooney, although I saw Clooney coming into the speakers' area, mobbed by cameras and people who wanted to meet him. In contrast, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine walked in with almost nobody recognizing him. Does that mean it's better to be a celebrity than a politician? Hmmmm.
[UPDATE: I forgot to mention that if you want to take action to stop genocide in Darfur, you can do so by clicking here. It can be as simple as a letter to President Bush. Thanks.]
Senator Barack Obama quoted the late Senator Paul Simon who said during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, "If 100 people in each congressional district would have written their congressmen 600,000-800,000 lives could have been saved." Obama stated that today if each of us would be willing to do the same we could end the genocide now. Obviously, it is time for us to take up our civic responsibility.
All too often, we assume that if ignore a crisis it will simply go away. One speaker noted this fact and said, "Yes it will go away and so will the people: they will be dead." Today not only is the genocide not going away, it is spreading to Chad. Already violence is becoming routine on the border and now it threatens the capital, N'Jamena, too. Thus far 300,000-400,000 Sudanese have died. Another 2.5-3 million are refugess and in critical condition.
The time to act is now. Obama said "There are times when it is hard to know what is right and wrong. This is not one of them." Let us end genocide now.
Please write your Senators and Representatives.