Faith-Based Groups to Urge Bush Administration, Congress to Make Stopping Genocide Against Civilians in Darfur No. 1 Priority

9/20/2005 11:14:00 AM


To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Sean Crowley, 202-478-6128 or 202-550-6524 (cell) or scrowley@mrss.com, for the Save Darfur Coalition

News Advisory:

-- Faith-based Groups to Urge Bush Administration, Congress to Make Stopping Genocide against Civilians in Darfur No. 1 Priority

-- Christian, Jewish Group Leaders to Hold Briefings for Journalists, Senior Bush Administration Officials, Congress

WHAT: The Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of 134 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights groups representing 130 million Americans, will hold a National Leadership Assembly to urge President Bush and Congress to make stopping the genocide by government-sponsored militias in Darfur, Sudan against civilians their No. 1 priority. The Save Darfur Coalition leaders will hold issue briefings for journalists, senior Bush administration officials and members of Congress to propose solutions to the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Simultaneously, Save Darfur Coalition members in over 50 local communities in 21 states will hold National Day of Action vigils and write postcards to President Bush urging him to lead the world in protecting the civilians of Darfur (see list of local events with local contact information at http://www.savedarfur.org/takeActionNow/participate.php?ftype=everything&fval=0 )


WHO:

-- U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), member, Senate Appropriations Committee

-- U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), member, House International Relations Committee

-- Rev. Richard Cizik, VP, Government Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals, Washington, D.C.

-- Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary, National Council of Churches, New York

-- Rabbi David Saperstein, director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, D.C.

-- Rev. Bill Sinkford, president, Unitarian Universalists, Boston

-- Ruth Messinger, executive director, American Jewish World Service, New York

-- Faisal Hussain Omar, Darfurian farmer/cattle trader whose brother and sister were burned alive and whose father was killed in militia attacks (via conference call)

WHERE: U.S. Capitol Building, Room HC-7, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 12:15 p.m. EDT: issue briefing for journalists

CONTACT: Sean Crowley 202-478-6128-w, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@mrss.com

WHY: According to recent reports by the World Food Program, United Nations (U.N.) and Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and up to 400,000 people have died in Darfur since February 2003. The only security now on the ground is an undermanned African Union force that cannot protect civilians or aid workers. To be effective, the AU will need a stronger civilian protection mandate, a major increase in the number of troops on the ground, and much larger logistical and monetary contributions from the U.N., European Union, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

http://www.usnewswire.com/