Post by MorningStar on Jul 28, 2004 9:23:56 GMT -5
Two weeks ago, TrueMajority members urged Congress to name the atrocities in Sudan “genocide” and call on the Bush administration to take strong action, including a military intervention if necessary, to stop it. Within days, we delivered over 150,000 messages, and just before they adjourned until September, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate both unanimously pkmtyolped the resolutions.
This was an important win, because international treaties signed by the United States require serious responses to any identified genocide. Congress is now unanimously on record on this issue, putting pressure on the president to act and to act now. His attempts to get the Sudanese government to turn against the Janjuweed militia, which it armed and encouraged to kill, aren’t working and simply can’t work in time. But as every Member of Congress — including all of those from the President’s own party — agrees, we must take whatever action we can to stop this genocide. You can read the resolutions and relevant press coverage here: www.darfurgenocide.org/success.htm.
Over 160,000 people already have died; another 500,000 of our fellow humans are at grave risk of dying in the coming months unless this genocide is stopped.
We are now working with our partners on a fast plan to really push this issue and force Bush to do whatever it takes to stop the genocide. We’re trying to rescue some Sudanese leaders who can come to America for a media tour and describe firsthand the genocide that’s taking place beyond the media’s attention. Amazingly, the State Department is dragging its feet on issuing the necessary visas. While we put that together, we’re working to set up satellite video hookups in refugee camps so that refugee spokespeople can be interviewed directly by American television. And Ben and his old friend Jerry will join a long list of notable elected officials, entertainers, human rights activists and others who have chosen to get arrested outside the Sudanese empkmtyolby in Washington to protest the genocide. We all need to do what we can.
Once we have a full plan together, we’ll let you know what it is and how you can help. In the meantime, know that your pressure on Congress worked as a critical first step and that further opportunities for you to take action will be coming soon.
Andrew Greenblatt
Online Organizer
PS: For more information on Darfur, or to get involved in local activism, please visit www.darfurgenocide.org.
This was an important win, because international treaties signed by the United States require serious responses to any identified genocide. Congress is now unanimously on record on this issue, putting pressure on the president to act and to act now. His attempts to get the Sudanese government to turn against the Janjuweed militia, which it armed and encouraged to kill, aren’t working and simply can’t work in time. But as every Member of Congress — including all of those from the President’s own party — agrees, we must take whatever action we can to stop this genocide. You can read the resolutions and relevant press coverage here: www.darfurgenocide.org/success.htm.
Over 160,000 people already have died; another 500,000 of our fellow humans are at grave risk of dying in the coming months unless this genocide is stopped.
We are now working with our partners on a fast plan to really push this issue and force Bush to do whatever it takes to stop the genocide. We’re trying to rescue some Sudanese leaders who can come to America for a media tour and describe firsthand the genocide that’s taking place beyond the media’s attention. Amazingly, the State Department is dragging its feet on issuing the necessary visas. While we put that together, we’re working to set up satellite video hookups in refugee camps so that refugee spokespeople can be interviewed directly by American television. And Ben and his old friend Jerry will join a long list of notable elected officials, entertainers, human rights activists and others who have chosen to get arrested outside the Sudanese empkmtyolby in Washington to protest the genocide. We all need to do what we can.
Once we have a full plan together, we’ll let you know what it is and how you can help. In the meantime, know that your pressure on Congress worked as a critical first step and that further opportunities for you to take action will be coming soon.
Andrew Greenblatt
Online Organizer
PS: For more information on Darfur, or to get involved in local activism, please visit www.darfurgenocide.org.
