San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition

Originally published on the SDC blog:
July 23rd, 2009
by Mohamed Yahya

Yesterday, July 22, marked a great day for the Darfuri and Sudanese community in the United States of America. The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy led a rally in front of the White House, asking President Obama to end his silence on Darfur. In attendance were Darfuris from the greater D.C. area, Virginia, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina. US Representative Lynn Woolsey of California’s 6th district greeted the assembly and shared her desire for the Administration to move quickly to lead the international community for peace in Sudan.

Activists and concerned citizens congregated at Lafayette Park in front of the White House in support of justice and peace. Representatives from Darfur Human Rights of Philadelphia, Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom, the Nubia Project, Nuba Mountain, the Darfur Rehabilitation Project and other activists from the Sudanese community were joined by organizations such as Enough, Save Darfur, American Jewish World Service, Africa Action, and the Armenian Assembly of America, amongst others. . The peaceful rally began with several notable speakers including Dr. Abdul-Gabar Adam of Darfur Human Rights, Jimmy Mulla of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom and Daowd Salih of the Damanga Coalition. Though we had a diverse group, the message was clear and unanimous: we need justice and peace in Darfur. Now.

From there we turned our attention to the White House – as the President was leaving in his motorcade, no less. The demonstrators expressed feelings of sorrow for the plight of those residing in refugee camps, desperation for America to act in Sudan, and frustration at the African Union and the Arab League for granting impunity to Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Activists march from the White House to the State Department

Activists march from the White House to the State Department

After gathering signatures and making our presence known in front of the White House, we marched to the Department of State to raise awareness about the plight of the people of Darfur. We received a great deal of attention. We finally arrived at the State Department and pleaded that Secretary Clinton do her part to help bring justice to Sudan.

Our voice was loud and the Obama Administration understands the importance of this issue to his constituency. With continued pressure, such as was demonstrated yesterday, we hope that President Obama will take further action to end the genocide in Darfur.

Mohamed Yahya is the Executive Director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy

Originally posted on the Pax Communications blog:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 22, 2009 – Darfuris, other Sudanese and Americans who share a common concern about the Obama Administration’s lack of response to the ongoing crimes against humanity in Sudan and Darfur are gathering today at 1:00 PM in front of the White House to deliver a letter to President Obama before marching to the State Department with a similar letter for Secretary Clinton. (Copy of letter below.) Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Sub Committee on Africa an Global Health is also attending and addressing the participants.

“Today’s ruling on Abyei demonstrates the importance of justice and peace coming together for Sudan,” states Mohamed Yahya, a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan and the Founder and Executive Director of the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy which organized the rally. “Just as the court’s ruling on Abyei is being respected, so should the court’s decision regarding the indictments against al-Bashir.”

“The international community should stop protecting those criminals who have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Darfur and throughout the Sudan,” Yahya continues. “We need to bring these perpetrators to justice immediately; this is the only way to save precious lives, protect the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and pave the way to a lasting peace for Sudan.”

A new survey shows that the publics in four majority Muslim and African nations, contrary to the positions of their governments, largely approve of the indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The letters delivered today call on President Obama, his Administration and the State Department to release a firm and clear “Statement of Administration Policy” on the situation in Darfur and to begin implementing it without further delay. The Darfuris seek an unequivocal statement from the United States Government in support of the following:

1. International cooperation with International Criminal Court and its indictments of Omar al-Bashir and other suspects for war Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Genocide;
2. The immediate deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur with a full Chapter VII mandate, and all necessary support and supplies;
3. Pressure on the Government of Sudan to allow all expelled humanitarian organizations back into Darfur without any delays or conditions;
4. Strict trade sanctions against Chinese oil companies, and all other companies investing in Sudanese oil or exporting weapons to Sudan and otherwise conducting business with the genocidal Regime;
5. The end of attacks on Refugee Camps in Chad and Darfur and the return of all
confiscated land to its rightful owners.

Sponsored by the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, the rally was timed to coincide with Special Envoy Gration’s trip to the Sudan and today’s announcement of the decision on the boundaries of the contested Abyei region. It also falls on the same day as President Obama’s prime time press conference. Darfuris hope that journalists will ask questions about Darfur and the ICC case against Bashir at the news conference. Americans nationwide will also be participating in a National Call-In Day to the White House in support of the Darfuri rally.

In addressing the participants, Congresswoman Woolsey said, “After recognizing genocide in Darfur almost five years ago, it’s far past time for the international community to come together to end it. We need to make ending the genocide in Darfur a top priority. This isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue – this is one of the moral issues of our time.”

Special Envoy Gration is currently travelling the region to assess the situation in Darfur and to participate in discussions with the Government of South Sudan and to continue the trilateral meetings between the SPLM, the Government of Sudan and the United States Government that began in Washington in June 2009. This important trip will build invaluable relationships between the people of Sudan and decision makers in Washington. “While laying the ground work is essential for a new Administration, it is time for action, now,” states Yahya. “The people of Darfur cannot wait any longer.”

Scheduled speakers to the rally include Mohamed Yahya. Darfuri and Founder and Executive Director, Damage Coalition for Freedom and Democracy of Washington DC; Omar Ismail, Darfuri Activist from Enough Project of Washington DC; Daowd Salish, Darfuri and President of Damage Board of Directors of New Jersey; Dr. Abdul-gabber Adam, Darfuri and President of Darfur Human Rights of Philadelphia; Ms. Niemat Ahmadi, Darfuri Liaison Officer for Save Darfur Coalition of Washington DC; Ms. Naziabad, Darfuri Human Rights Activist of Georgia; Bukhara Dose, President of Darfuri Association of New York; Jimmy Mulla, President of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom of Virginia; Nordic Manna, President of Nubian Project of North Sudan of Maryland; Yahya Osman, Vice President of Darfur Rehabilitation Project of New Jersey; Adobe Yusuf, International Coordinator For Sudan Social Development organization of New Jersey; Ms. Saud Mansur, Darfuri from Darfur Alert Coalition of Philadelphia; and Maggie Fick, Policy Assistant, Enough Project of Washington, DC.

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Text of letter:

Most Honorable President Obama:

In Ghana, you were clear in saying, “We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur,” but a witness who does nothing to assist the helpless is complicit in the crime. Bearing witness and recognizing the value of every life lost and still at risk in Darfur means standing up and taking action. We must be equally clear – Darfur will not
continue to burn, not again on our watch.

The transition period is always one of delayed action, but you have appointed your key actors and your Special Envoy to Sudan will return from a month in the region at the end of the week. We trust your
leadership and know the value of careful preparations, but the ground work is laid. It is time to act.

All actors must remember that the disintegrating Comprehensive Peace Agreement is an incomplete answer to the many tragedies in Sudan, especially those in Darfur. Without international action now, on
behalf of those without a voice, the people of Darfur will continue to be denied the peace that all Sudanese were promised. The Administration needs to ensure that the ground work for justice and
peace in Sudan is meticulously laid out, but time is of the essence.

The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, along with its partners, calls on your Administration and your State Department to urgently release a firm and clear “Statement of Administration Policy” on the situation
in Darfur and to begin implementing it without further delay.

We seek an unequivocal statement of United States Government support for the following:

1. International cooperation with International Criminal Court and its indictments of Omar al-Bashir and other suspects for War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity;
2. The immediate deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur with a full Chapter VII mandate, and all necessary support and supplies;
3. Pressure on the Government of Sudan to allow all expelled humanitarian organizations back into Darfur without any delays or conditions;
4. The end of attacks on Refugee Camps in Chad and Darfur and the return of all confiscated land to its rightful owners;
5. Strict trade sanctions against Chinese oil companies, and all other companies investing in Sudanese oil or exporting weapons to Sudan and otherwise conducting business with the genocidal Regime.
The leadership of the United States, the active engagement of the CPA mediators and the commitment of the international community are pivotal to a sustainable peace process. Your Administration must take advantage of unprecedented goodwill and a unique moment – a moment when real progress can be made. We are standing up today to show that the political will for substantive action exists. Support the innocent people of Sudan and bring the leaders of the world along with you. You know how many lives hang in the balance.

With the sincere support of the following representatives of the Darfuri community,

Mohamed Yahya,
Executive Director, The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Washington, DC

Mohamed Yahya
Executive Director,
The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Washington, DC

Daowd Salih
Board of Directors President
The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Washington, DC

Dr. Abdul-gabar Adam
President, Darfur Human Rights
Philadelphia, PA

Ms. Nusaiba
Darfuri Women of Georgia

Bushara Dosa
President, Darfuri Association of New York

Jimmy Mulla
President, Southern Sudan Community
Virginia

Nouredin Mannan
President, Nubia of North Sudan Community

Yahya Osman
Darfur Rehabilitation Project
New Jersey

Adeeb Yousif
International Coordinator For Sudan Social Development Organization
New Jersey

Suad Mansour
Darfur Alert Coalition
Philadelphia

Lam Jock
President of United Sudanese Youth
Virginia

Ibrahim Tahir Ahmed
Beja Congress Party
Washington DC

Sunday Taabu
Administrative Chair, South Sudan Institute for Women’s Education and Leadership
Greensboro, NC

Niemat Ahmadi
Darfuri Liaison Officer, Save Darfur Coalition
Washington, DC

Mohamed Suleiman
Member, Executive Committee, San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition
San Francisco, CA

And the following organizations standing in solidarity with Darfuris,

Nikki Serapio
Director, Americans Against the Darfur Genocide
San Francisco, CA

Eric Cohen
Chairperson, Investors Against Genocide
Boston, MA

Susan Morgan
Director of Communications, The Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur
Boston, MA

Sharon Silber
Co-Founder, New York City Coalition for Darfur
New York, NY

Eileen Weiss
Steering Committee Co-Chair, DarfurMetro
New York, NY

Leah Nuckolls
Founder, Be Their Messenger
Gilbert, AZ

Julia A. Hays
Director, Keokuk for Darfur
Keokuk, IA

Nell Okie
The New Haven Alliance for Congo
Madison, CT

Michael Schwartz
Regional Coordinator, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Cambridge, MA

Eric Frenkil
Founder, Activists United
Beloit, WI

Ruth Messinger
President, American Jewish World Service
New York, NY

Bryan Ardouny
Executive Director, Armenian Assembly of America
Washington, DC

Angie McPhaul
Coordinator, Stanford STAND
Palo Alto, CA

Sara Caine Kornfeld
Project Founder, “Change the world. It just takes cents”
Denver, CO

Rabbi Charles M. Feinberg
Adas Israel Congregation
Washington, DC

Faith J. H. McDonnell
Director, Church Alliance for a New Sudan
Washington, DC

Benjamin Swartout
Mid-Atlantic Regional Outreach, STAND
Upton, MA

Carmen Paolercio
Shine A Ray of Hope for Darfur
New Rochelle, NY

Cory Williams
Darfur and Beyond
Phoenix, AZ

Gerri Miller
Founder and Coordinator, Dear Sudan, Love Marin
Tiburon, CA

Darfuris and other Sudanese are rallying in DC today, delivering letters to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton. We can join and support them from wherever we are.

Ask President Obama to:
- Support the ICC and the arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir
- Ensure the IMMEDIATE and complete deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID force to Darfur with a full mandate, helicopters, logistics, and necessary supplies.
- Ensure the return to Darfur and other parts of Sudan of the expelled aid workers and maintain the highest possible level of aid to Sudanese in need.

Please use any one of the following means to deliver your message:
- Call 202-456-1111
- Fax 202-456-2461
- Email the White House using the form at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
- Become a Fan and post on the White House Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse
- Send a message via Twitter to @whitehouse. Follow at http://twitter.com/whitehouse

Thank you, and please tell a friend!

Rafting for Darfur
Saturday, August 1, 2009, 9am or 10:30am or 12Noon

Start at South Bonnyview boat landing: End at Anderson River Park Landing, Redding, CA. Cost is $80 for six-person raft, $100 for eight-person raft, $5 for a water cannon.

Get a group together or join a group with space (contact Marv below)!

Sponsored by “Genocide No More – Save Darfur” of Redding and North Country Raft Rentals.

A barbecue lunch, courtesy of Redding Vice Mayor Patrick Jones, will follow at the Anderson River Park landing.

Proceeds go to build a permanent Library/Classroom in Camp Kounoungo, a camp for displaced Darfuris located in eastern Chad.

Reservations required. Call 244-4281 or 209-2785. E-mail Jaredelaw [at] sbcglobal.net. Questions or for more information: Marv Steinberg at 530-229-3661 or loganstein [at] aol.com.

Our latest Sudan action:

Events next week will have a major impact on the prospects for peace in Sudan:

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague will announce on Wednesday, July 22 its decision on the boundaries of the Abyei region, on the border between northern and southern Sudan. See this analysis from Enough for more information.

Darfuris in the U.S., joined by other Sudanese and American activists, will rally in Washington, DC on July 22 (details below).

- If you will be in or near D.C., please join them.
- If you can’t be in D.C., please contact friends, family, colleagues, anyone you know in D.C. and ask them to participate.

AND, mark July 22 on your calendar for next week’s special “Darfur Wednesday” when we will ask you to contact The White House.

A flyer for the event can be downloaded at http://savedarfurma.googlepages.com/2009-0722Flyer.pdf.

The link to the Facebook event is http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109468211436.

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 22
1:00-2:30PM: Rally in front of the White House
2:30-4:00PM: March to the State Department

WHERE:
Start at Lafayette Square, in front of the White House
Participants will deliver a letter to the Administration. From there, participants will walk to the State Department with a letter to the Secretary of State.

WHY:
To issue a plea to President Obama and Secretary Clinton for an unequivocal statement from the United States government in support of:

1. International cooperation with the ICC and its indictments of Omar al-Bashir
2. The immediate deployment of the 26,000 UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur with a full Chapter VII mandate, and all necessary support and supplies;
3. Pressure on the Government of Sudan to allow all expelled humanitarian organizations back into Darfur without any delays or conditions;
4. Strict trade sanctions against Chinese oil companies, and all other companies investing in Sudanese oil or exporting weapons to Sudan;
5. The end of attacks on Refugee Camps in Chad and Darfur and the return of all
confiscated land to its rightful owners.

President Obama is making his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa today and tomorrow and will deliver a speech in Ghana on Saturday.

Last week the African Union’s leaders in a joint resolution declared it would not support the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for President al-Bashir of Sudan, despite the fact that 30 African countries are party to the ICC.

Today, please ask President Obama to continue his practice of taking on the tough issues in his speech tomorrow. Urge the President to call for support of the ICC — a global institution created to promote justice, human rights and peace — in its efforts to bring the perpetrators of the Darfur genocide to justice.

You can contact the President by any of the following means:

1. Call the White House at 202-456-1111.

2. Fax a note to the President at 202-456-2461.

3. Send email at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

4. Post the message on the White House’s official Facebook event for the Ghana speech: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101852647137

5. If you have a
Twitter account, help generate some pressure by posting this: “@WhiteHouse Those suffering in Sudan can’t wait. Pres. Obama, where and what is your concrete plan for Sudan? #obamaghana #isthishope”

Thursday, July 23, 2009
Doors open 6:00pm, Screening starts 6:30pm

UPDATE: Discussion following the film will be led by Mohamed Suleiman, native of Darfur, and Natasha Fain, an attorney with the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), will also join the post-film discussion, to comment on and answer any questions about international human rights law. CJA is an international human rights organization dedicated to ending torture and other severe human rights abuses around the world and advancing the rights of survivors to seek truth, justice and redress. CJA is a long time collaborator with the film’s director, Pamela Yates and producer, Paco de Onis and co-presented “The Reckoning” at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Light refreshments will be served

121 Steuart Street between Mission and Howard Streets
Accessible by MUNI/BART (Embarcadero stop)
$6.00 parking at Howard Street garage (west of Steuart Street) after 4:00pm

RSVP to facilitate building security check-in and for more information:
Email info@darfursf.org or call 415-221-8400

Suggested donation: $5-10 sliding scale at the door
Proceeds will support the Genocide Intervention Network’s “People Who Move the World Challenge.”
Through August 31 all donations will be matched up to $15,000.

ABOUT THE FILM: Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues arrest warrants for the rebel leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, puts four Congolese warlords on trial in The Hague, charges the President of Sudan with genocide and war crimes in Darfur, challenges the UN Security Council to have him arrested, and shakes up the Colombian criminal justice system. Will this tiny upstart court in The Hague tame the Wild West of international conflict zones and end the culture of impunity?

Government offices are closed today, but you can still make a very important contribution to advance advocacy for Darfur and Sudan.

The SF Bay Area Darfur Coalition has a new Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Darfur-Coalition/54523268037. For it to be effective, it needs more fans!

If you are on Facebook, please become a fan at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Darfur-Coalition/54523268037 and ask at least five of your friends to become fans.

If you are not on Facebook, please email the link http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Darfur-Coalition/54523268037 to at least five of your friends who are on Facebook, and ask them to become fans. They will know what to do.

Thank you for caring about the people of Darfur and Sudan, and have a nice weekend!