Tens of Thousands Rally Against Sudan Genocide in USA

|PIC1|Tens of thousands of Americans from across the USA rallied in Washington D.C. yesterday against the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.

Led by religious leaders, entertainers and politicians, the rally aimed to push the US government to take stronger measures to help civilians in Darfur who are being attacked by government-backed Arab militias.

"You are here today to shine a bright light on the horrors and to show the world that America will not stand quietly by while the genocide continues," US Representative Michael E. Capuano, a Somerville Democrat, told the cheering crowd. "I am here to tell you that your elected leaders are listening."

Smaller rallies also took place in 18 other US cities, making this the largest public demonstration on the issue since the conflict in Darfur began three years ago.

The major conflict in Sudan began early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, claiming that the region was being neglected by Khartoum, and that the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.

|AD|The government of Sudan responded by allowing free rein to Arab militias known as the Janjawid (guns on horseback) who began attacking villages, killing, raping and abducting people, destroying homes and other property, including water sources and looting livestock.

Since then, millions fled their destroyed villages, many heading for camps near Darfur's main towns where there was not enough food, water or medicine.

Bush met Friday with seven Darfur activists, including the Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, co-pastor of Bethel AME Church in Jamaica Plain.

Hammond, who also helped organize yesterday's rally, said that the activists asked Bush to appoint a special envoy for Darfur.

''We need him to act with greater urgency," she said. ''Our frustration has been over the last few years as we watched this genocide occur. This administration has been too slow."

A turnout of 10,000 to 15,000 protesters, from Christian conservatives to African-American civic groups and Jewish activists, appeared at the rally yesterday.