Congresswoman Moore Protests Genocide in Darfur

Congresswoman Moore Protests Genocide in Darfur

Today Congresswoman Moore participated in a peaceful protest and act of civil disobedience at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. alongside members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in order to draw attention to the ongoing genocide taking place in Darfur, Sudan. Rep. Moore was joined by civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), CBC Chairman Melvin Watt (D-NC), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

"We have a moral obligation as citizens of the most powerful nation in the world to do what we can to stop this horrific genocide," said Congresswoman Moore. "It is vital that Americans are aware of the atrocities occurring in Sudan—the violence, the raping of women, the killings—and that we place pressure on our leaders to force the Sudanese to put an end to the genocide."

Congresswoman Moore and her colleagues spoke out for the lives of millions of Sudanese at a press conference before symbolically stepping onto the property of the Sudanese Embassy in a peaceful act of civil disobedience, prompting their own arrest. The purpose of today's demonstration was to push for accountability by the Sudanese Government officials and Janjaweed responsible for the genocide and violence. The CBC also called for a Chapter 7 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur to assist the 7,000 African Union peacekeepers already on the ground. Finally, the CBC protestors implored the Sudanese government to implement the Darfur Peace Agreement, a document they signed on May 5, 2006.

Last week, Congresswoman Moore met with members of Marquette University's Darfur Action Coalition to talk about the genocide in Sudan. The group presented her with nearly 5,000 signatures from Marquette students urging the United States to "take a leading role in organizing a multinational force with sufficient means to guarantee peace and security in Darfur as well as the provision of extensive humanitarian aid."

Over the past three years, nearly half a million Sudanese have been killed and over 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes by the Sudanese Government and its Janjaweed militia allies. The bombing of communities and the rape of women are occurring on a massive scale as inhabitants of the Darfur region continue to starve without access to a sufficient food supply. Currently, over 3.5 million Sudanese are in need of humanitarian relief.

Also participating in the peaceful protest were representatives from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Institute for Policy Studies, TransAfrica Forum, Rainbow Push, and also members of the clergy.

Congresswoman Moore is a cosponsor of H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. This bill would direct President Bush to block the assets and deny visas and entry into the U.S. to any individual responsible for acts of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity in Sudan. The measure would also strengthen the arms embargo imposed on the Sudanese government to keep more weapons from entering the conflict, and it calls for the suspension of Sudan's membership in the United Nations until it has honored its pledges to cease attacks upon civilians, demobilized the Janjaweed militias, and allowed humanitarian assistance to reach Darfur. H.R. 3127 passed the House 416-3 on April 5, and is currently pending in the Senate.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/wi04_moore/pr060515.html