Take Action to End the Killing in Darfur
http://www.savedarfur.org/
Please join Human Rights Watch and supporters as we participate in the “Save Darfur: Rally to Stop Genocide” organized by the Save Darfur Coalition. The rally will take place from 2:00 - 4:30 pm on Sunday, April 30 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (details below).
Darfur Rally in D.C. Campaign Page
Campaign Document, April 25, 2006
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Since early 2003, Sudanese armed forces and Sudanese government-backed militia known as “Janjaweed” have been fighting two rebel groups in Darfur, the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). As part of their operations against the rebels, these forces have waged a systematic campaign of “ethnic cleansing” against the civilian population who are members of the same ethnic groups as the rebels. The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militias are responsible for the burning and destruction of hundreds of rural villages, the killing of tens of thousands of people and rape and assault of thousands of women and girls. The Sudanese government’s campaign has forced more than two million Darfurians from their homes. As of 2006, some 1.8 million displaced Darfurians live in camps in Darfur and approximately 220,000 have fled into Chad as refugees. They are unable to return home due to continuing attacks when they try to return, and escalating insecurity.
What: "SAVE DARFUR: Rally to Stop Genocide"
When: April 30, 2006 -- Program 2:00 - 4:30 pm (Crowd Assembly 1:30 - 2:00 pm)
Where: Washington, DC, National Mall, between 3rd and 4th Streets in front of the US Capitol
(Metro Station -- Federal Center SW [Orange and Blue Lines])
Who: Leading voices in the effort to stop genocide in Darfur, including a broad spectrum of prominent faith leaders, political figures, human rights activists, celebrities, survivors of the Holocaust and genocides in Cambodia, Srebrenica, Rwanda, and current atrocities in South Sudan and Darfur.
Website: savedarfur.org/home . The website features program bulletins, logistics information, tools to help participants get organized and announcements about featured speakers.
Background: “The Rally to Stop Genocide” is organized by the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 155 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations. www.savedarfur.org The rally is part of the “Million Voices for Darfur” campaign to generate one million postcards for delivery to President Bush, who recently pledged to push for additional U.N. and NATO help to protect the people of Darfur. We applaud the president's leadership, but the work is far from done. We are urging President Bush to take steps necessary to stop genocide and build a lasting peace.
The rally is also the final stop of the “Tour for Darfur: Eyewitness to Genocide,” a photo exhibit and speaking tour of 22 cities in 11 states to raise public awareness about the Darfur crisis. The tour's featured speaker is Brian Steidle, a former Marine captain and U.S. representative to the African Union's peacekeeping mission in Darfur from September 2004 to February 2005.
