Speaking out on Darfur in Seattle
From LSophia on Clark Community Network:
Darfur Protests update
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" - See below. 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
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. You can find your members of congress at www.congress.org
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.
