September 17: UUs in Action and Solidarity for the People of Darfur
(New York City) Thanks to all UUs who were part of the successful September 17th gathering at All Souls, the march along Madison Ave., and the main rally in Central Park.
Approximately 500 activists—including over 100 Darfuris from Philadelphia and New York areas joined the Pre-March gathering at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (NYC) and the march organized by the UU-UNO, UUSC and UUA to call for deployment of UN peacekeepers to stop genocide in the Darfur. After the march, we joined over 30,000 rallyers in Central Park where former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), multi-platinum, award winning music duo Big & Rich and many others gathered to emphasized the gravity of the situation.
UUs in Action to Stop Genocide in Darfur
International day of action for Darfur, September 17, 2006
A Sunday rally and concert near the United Nations Headquarters, New York City
The next major Darfur event is a Sunday afternoon, September 17 rally and concert near the United Nations. The Save Darfur Coalition, of which the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO), the UU Service Committee (UUSC), and the UU Association of Congregations (UUA), are members, will host the centerpiece event in New York City.
While the April 30 Darfur rally in Washington, DC focused on the Bush Administration and Congress, the September event—following the first week of the UN 61st General Assembly—will focus on urging Member States of the United Nations to approve a UN Security Council resolution to send international UN Peacekeepers to Darfur; to adequately support the African Union Mission in Sudan during the interim; and to ensure safe passage for intergovernmental and NGO humanitarian workers.
The UU-UNO has participated in the first two Darfur Coalition local planning meetings (July 19 and August 2). UU-UNO staff and interns, and the UUSC Washington Office has met to develop plans to mobilize UUs for the rally. Part of this planning session will include organizing a UU gathering mid-day on September 17, feeding into the main Darfur Coalition gathering.
If you or someone from your congregation would like to participate in the planning, please let us know. Please provide contact names for UU congregation committees, youth groups and community groups that should be part of our outreach efforts. In any case, please SAVE THE DATE for Sunday afternoon, September 17. More specific times and locations for are expected to be finalized with the City of New York in the next week or two.
Click here for the general information from the Save Darfur Coalition website.
"All humans are human. Are some more human than others?"
-Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Roméo Dallaire,
Force Commander of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda
NY Darfur Weekly Vigil - Stop Genocide Now
Event cosponsored by Africa Action
Location: U.S. Mission to the United Nations, 140 East 45th St. (between Third & Lexington Aves.; look for friendly police booth)
Date: Every Tuesday in August (Aug. 15, 22, 29)
Time: 12 - 2 pm (come when you can, stay as long as you can)
The vigil on Tuesday, August 15th, marks the sixth month advocates and friends from Africa Action have vigilled every week in front of the US Mission to the UN. This anniversary is a testimony to the devotion of those who have come week in and week out since February, as well as to those who have come when their schedule permitted.
Join them every Tuesday in August from 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm for a vigil on Darfur at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Come when you can, stay as long as you want.
There are signs that public pressure is having an effect in our fight to stop the genocide in Darfur, western Sudan where over 400,000 have died and 2.5 million have lost their homes and livelihoods. There is a peace deal between two of the four parties and the UN has an assessment mission on the ground. Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has already violated the agreement and attacks on civilians have doubled since the signing of the peace deal. The U.S. Mission at the United Nations (UN) has indicated support for a resolution that would authorize a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur with a mandate to protect civilians. Without a peacekeeping mission on the ground there will not be enough security to foster a lasting peace agreement.
Africa Action advocates have to keep up the pressure to ensure that the Security Council authorizes such a mission. It is becoming only more important that the U.S. negotiate with all the stakeholders on the ground in Darfur and with the other members of the UN Security Council to achieve a solution that can best protect the people in Darfur. Please join them as we continue to be a witness to the genocide in Darfur and call for the United states to use its power to protect. Be the public representative of the growing national chorus that will not accept genocide in Darfur.
Go to Africa Action website for more information
Darfur Interfaith Activism Group Event
An educational and motivational event
When: September 5th.
Where: Forest Hills Jewish Center, Queens, NYC
This event is to prepare people for the September 17 Rally. At the event, Ruth Messinger, President of the American Jewish World Service will speak about her recent fact-finding mission in Sudan, some Sudanese refugees will relate their experiences, and more.
Download the flyer for this event (PDF)
Please call your Representative today and ask that he or she support increased funding for African Union peacekeepers in Darfur within the FY06 supplemental spending bill.
Just one minute of your time can have a tremendous impact for the millions of innocent men, women, and children in Darfur who live every day in fear of murder, starvation, and rape.
You can find contact information for your Representative here, http://www.house.gov/, or you can simply call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected. The Save Darfur Coalition has provided a sample call script here. Thank you once again for your commitment to helping the people of Darfur.
After you’ve made your call, please email the Coalition at info@savedarfur.org or UU-UNO office at office@uu-uno.org and let us know how it went.
Sample call script:
Hi, this is [NAME] calling from [CITY/TOWN]. I’m calling to ask Congressman/woman _____ to support full funding for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid in
If yes:
That’s great news. Please thank [HIM/HER] for me and let [HIM/HER] know that I’ll tell my friends and family that [HE’S/SHE’S] supporting this important cause.
If no, or don’t know:
[ONLY IF NO] Do you know why not?
[EITHER WAY] Please let [HIM/HER] know that these programs are keeping millions of families alive and safe. Please ask [HIM/HER] to do everything [HE/SHE] can to ensure that humanitarian aid life support system remains intact. Thank you for your time.
(Source: SaveDarfur.org)