Manhattan Students Take Central Park in Rally Against Darfur Atrocities
Laurel Noble
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: News
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For the past three years, the Sudanese government has murdered more than 400,000 people of Darfur in ethnic cleansing attempts. Women have been raped, children murdered and young boys stolen from home and forced to join the army of the Janjaweed militia.
The rally occurred in response to Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations which states that the UN cannot step in and stop the fighting unless the Sudanese government allows it, or unless the UN deems the government's acts as genocide. Both have yet to happen.
Many don't believe that is a good enough answer. They believe there is more to be done. At the rally there were homemade posters saying, "The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference."
Activist Sister Gloria Hammound was adamant about this point. "It's about time you stop making excuses and start saving lives," she said.
The activists were confused as to why no action has been taken in Darfur, while in similar situations there is much action. In Iraq, other governments have stepped in to help. "If life is sacred in Iraq and Gaza, it is sacred in Darfur," said Imam Talib a Muslim leader who spoke at the rally.
Other speakers included actress and activist Mira Sorvino, Simon Deng, and Ethen Rafal a young journalist who was recently imprisoned in Darfur. ?"They destroyed my pictures. I thought they may take my life but they'll never take what I saw…Imagine broken glass, shattered plates and a bloody shoe, staring at you," he said.
His hands shook but his voice never quivered as he recounted his experiences, which occurred only this past summer. "So, I ask you to choose love, choose humanity…Act now!" said Rafal.
In addition, the cause brought entertainers. The groups Citizen Cope, Big and Rich and O.A.R. performed. Big and Rich have been large supporters for UN intervention. "For our last tour at every concert we hung a 40 by 50 poster which read, 'Save Darfur Now,'" said lead singer Big Kenny, "We want to tell everyone we know what's going on. And when that's done we'll tell more." Also, O.A.R. let the Darfur activists travel with them during this summer's tour.
"I love the music. It's like your pay back for showing up," said Reva. Attending rallies since her college years, Reva was knowledgeable about a good outcome of a rally. "It's important to attend because later the politicians do count it. It may happen years later. But it does count," said Reva. Her hopes for the rally were simple. "I hope that this can bring together people from all generations. Some say today's generation is indifferent. Sometimes I think that they are the only ones who can really do it."
History Professor Dr. Jeff Horn agrees with Reva. In the preliminary meeting for the rally, he said, "Some say that today's college students are the only ones who can give the big push to stop events just like this."
With this in mind Just Peace organized the outing for students. The group began just last year and hopes to help with issues of today.
The rally was one of many attempts to educate students about the genocide in Darfur. "A year ago we organized a refugee camp on the Quad, in April we had a die in, and last week we did a demonstration on the Quad," said Melissa Pauls, a member of Just Peace at Manhattan.
"We want to make sure that the word is spread about what's going on and that we are advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves. We are in this till the end."