Events raise awareness of genocide in Darfur

By Eric Donovan
Senior Staff Writer
April 16, 2008

The Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC) held a public rally at City Hall April 13 as part of “Global Day for Darfur,” a worldwide demonstration against the genocide and war occurring within the Sudan. This was just one of several events scheduled to be held in Philadelphia throughout the coming months that serve to protest the current situation in Darfur.

The DAC is a Philadelphia-based group consisting of several grassroots organizations where members are “working together to stop the aggression and violence being waged against the people of Darfur,” according to the DAC Web site. In the past several years, they have been responsible for many of the various protest events held in the city, including this past Sunday’s event.

At the west plaza of City Hall, demonstrators petitioned for peace in the Darfur region, handing out flyers raising awareness about what is going on in Darfur. Also present at the demonstration was a “Tent of Hope,” constructed by protestors and filled with various messages of peace, all in the hopes of raising awareness about Darfur.

  On this particular day, protesters were focusing their energy towards China and the upcoming summer Olympics, which has been referred to in DAC newsletters as the “Genocide Olympics” due to what the DAC calls, “China’s shameful role as Sudan’s enabler,” according to a DAC newsletter e-mail. Over the years, China has been widely criticized for its dealings with Sudan, as they provide weapons in exchange for oil from Sudan, ultimately helping to perpetuate the war there, which has resulted in the genocide of millions of people.

Although this was a one-day event, the DAC is going to be holding several more events in the coming months to continue raising awareness about this issue. A Jazz Benefit Concert, a charity event run by New York-based Jazz for Peace Organization, who have run several music gala events for various songs, will be held May 3 at the Arch Street Meetinghouse.

The DAC is also working on an initiative to have the state government pass a divestment bill, which would cause two of the state’s pension funds disinvest money and holdings from China and other groups involved in the Darfur crisis.

Similarly, the coalition has also announced its official endorsement of the Investors Against Genocide campaign, an initiative that “challenge[s] investment firms [to file] shareholder proposals that call for shunning genocide-entangled stocks,” according to a DAC newsletter e-mail. This means, for investment firms, is that the DAC is encouraging these businesses to reevaluate where they invest their funds, hoping to keep this money out of the hands of those complicit in the Darfur crisis.

The DAC is also hosting the world-premiere of Darfur at the Arden Theater April 23 and 24. This contemporary play is comprised of alternative rock music and is set in both America and Sudan. Proceeds from the play will go to the non-profit Global Grassroots organization.

Also in coming months are discussion panels and church services to be held May 18 at St. Peter’s Church, located at 3rd and Pine streets. The panel will include actor Corey Feldman as well as youth from Darfur, who will lead informal discussions regarding the Darfur crisis.

 

For more information on the events the DAC is hosting and running or for more information regarding what is occurring in the Darfur region, visit the DAC Web site at DarfurAlert.org.

donovane1@lasalle.edu