http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=241665Senator John Kerry, Senator Edward Kennedy, Representative Michael Capuano Join the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur to Raise Awareness of the Genocide
BOSTON, MA - Today, Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Representative Capuano released a statement to the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur to support and commend their tireless efforts to awaken the conscience of government and citizens throughout the Commonwealth. Below is statement from Senator John Kerry, Senator Edward Kennedy, and Representative Michael Capuano:
To the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur
“We wish we could be here with you today in solidarity with the suffering people of Darfur. House and Senate are both in session, however, and we must be in Washington.
To our great shame, the United States has not done all it should to save Darfur. It is now more than a year since Congress recognized the slaughter there for what it is, genocide. President Bush and then Secretary of State Powell have also specifically denounced the atrocities in Darfur as genocide. Our words have had, thus far, virtually no effect.
Khartoum and its proxies, the Janjaweed, continue to kill and rape with impunity. They have killed hundreds of thousands. They have driven another two million or more into refugee camps. In these camps, survivors face “genocide by attrition” as the Janjaweed harass aid workers and obstruct deliveries of food and medicine. Relief agencies estimate that four or five hundred people are dying every week.
We trust that your rally will awaken the conscience of all who hear you and inspire them to demand more of our government. It is not enough to condemn genocide. We are bound to prevent and punish genocide, and we must act immediately. Thus far we have failed. We have broken our promise of “Never again.”
You who have organized this rally represent all that is best in us as a people: a determination to protect the life and liberty of all persons.”
Senator John Kerry Senator Edward Kennedy Representative Michael Capuano