5 CONGRESS MEMBERS ARRESTED AT SUDAN PROTEST

[kpete]

Congress Members Arrested at Sudan Protest By ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Five Congress members were willingly arrested and led away from the Sudanese Embassy in plastic handcuffs Friday in protest of the Sudanese government's role in atrocities in the Darfur region.


"The slaughter of the people of Darfur must end," Rep. Tom Lantos (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a Holocaust survivor who founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, said from the embassy steps before his arrest.

Four other Democratic Congress members — James McGovern and John Olver of Massachusetts, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Jim Moran of Virginia — were among 11 protesters arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor subject to a fine.

"We must hold the Sudanese government accountable for the attacks they have supported on their own citizens in Darfur," Olver said

Dozens of demonstrators carried signs, some reading "Stop the slaughter" and "Women of Darfur suffer multiple gang rapes," in front of the embassy Friday morning.

The protesters cheered as the Congress members and others were cuffed, hands behind their backs, with plastic ties and quietly led to a white police van by U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers.

more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060428/ap_on_go_co/us_darfur_protest
via:http://www.rawstory.com/

[TheLeftyMom]

1. I'm amazed

And proud! What a terrific way for them to bring attention to the protest and the issue. I'm very proud of our Dems today!

[0007]

5. I agree!

[paineinthearse]

40. Why?

McGovern and Olver are the cream of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation.

Do a little archive searching in the Massachusetts forum.

[bigwillq]

48. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

52. This is what genocide looks like - WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE

Photo by Brian Steidle

More pictures at http://www.savedarfur.org/steidle/photos

[babylonsister]

2. All Dems? Color me shocked, and good for them!

Nice to see some principles on display! :applause: :applause:

[ChiciB1]

45. I'm Gonna Hang On Your Words! You Said It GOOD!.... n/t

[stop the bleeding]

3. Leading by example

I love it! Kudos!!!

[warrens]

4. Good for them

It's about time to turn up the heat on these thugs.

[Debau2005]

6. WOW! nt

[CountAllVotes]

7. and the revolution begins!

:bounce: :party: :woohoo:

Thank you Rep. Tom Lantos, Congressman James McGovern, Rep. John Olver of Massachusetts, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Jim Moran of Virginia!!

:dem: :kick:

[katinmn]

12. Yes, when a Congressmember puts his/her ass on the line

we are getting somewhere.

[dogday]

8. Sheila Jackson Lee

just keeps on giving... I really admire her... I am glad to see these people take a stand on the horrendous conditions in Darfur....

[IndyOp]

15. A toast to Congresswoman Jackson Lee!

Salute!

[katinmn]

9. Damn. I have tears in my eyes.

Things are changing. :)

[Sydnie]

10. They obviously listened to Kerry's speech

and the dem reaction to it as well. Good for them. Proudly, two of them were from Massachusetts. Way to go guys! Keep it up!

[katinmn]

13. LOL

[paineinthearse]

41. Say what?

:rofl:

You're joking, right?

[sallyseven]

50. I know that McGovern voted against the war,

votes in the people's interest at all times. He is an upstanding member of congress and his constituents like him a lot. He is not a photo op freak. He really means it.

[Guaranteed]

11. If you're going to get arrested for something, this is it.

I wholeheartedly support them.

Well done, folks.

[oxbow]

14. I woke up with Sudan in my thoughts today

No particular reason for it, I thought. I prayed and held the people who needed it in the light and went back to sleep. Now though, I'm wondering...

Please rate this up on YahooNews and K&R the story here. Send it to MSM too, if you can. It's time to make things happen in Darfur!

[greekspeak]

16. Do they need bail?

I would love to bail them out and shake their hands for being what America is all about.

[qanda]

17. Oprah did a show on Darfur the other day

George Clooney and his father went there to bring attention to this crisis. I wish George and Oprah had been there to be arrested also, it probably would have received more attention.

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. You're probably right.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. I find it incredibly ironic

that these brave people have been arrested for protesting when the Sudanese government is doing nothing to stop the rape and killing of thousands.

Check www.refugeesinternational.org for a film on Darfu AND information about the April 30 protest!

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. That is good to see. I find it incredibly sad that...

Democratic reps are arrested for protesting genocide and gang rape while Republican reps are arrested for bribery and money laundering. Which party is in control?

Why isn't our entire government putting full pressure to bear on the Sudanese government? I guess the answer to the former questions answers that.

[redqueen]

23. Yup... is there OIL in Darfur?

Well okay then!

[gordianot]

24. Actually there is a lot of oil in Sudan.

Estimated 563 million barrels. The problem is the criminals who are committing these atrocities are also in control of oil fields. Guess * does not want to anger his fellow oil men.

[redqueen]

26. Hrm...

Don't see why he doesn't go in and topple the oil men, and take over the oil fields, a la Iraq.

Not *enough* oil perhaps? It's all based on ROI...

[gordianot]

28. You have to put on your ENRON thinking cap.

1. Buy from an outlaw regime and cut overhead with cheap labor.
2. Enough money buys anything you may want if you let your buddies (mostly in Middle East) invest early enough through speculation (remember the money you are making is through speculation not purchasing goods or services)
3. Topple the crooks and you may have to support the local population, sure is no profit in that.
4. By having a free population in Sudan they may start demanding a cut of the oil money after Western oil interests have invested in oil infrastructure. Next thing you know there is a Central African Hugo Chavez stirring up the masses.
5. Keep crooks, thugs, murders, and genocide going in the Sudan also keeps out competition allowing you to decide you really need the oil.

Our last 3 big wars have all had oil as a central theme: Vietnam (off shore oil still to be developed), Desert Storm (obvious Kuwait), George W. Bush Oil Wars 2001-present.

[redqueen]

32. *sigh*

I suppose I'm slightly pleased that I don't think that way.

I don't know if I'm more sad or mad.

[gordianot]

33. It is a burden. This is not how the world should work.

[JI7]

46. because they are already on the same side

deals cut out to benefit each other. same reason Kuwait doesn't need to be a Democracy even after we went to war for them. Saudi Arabia the same thing.

and if they weren't on the same side and he decided to go in there in the same of stopping Genocide, you can bet they will older the soldiers to protect the oil fields rather than the people, especially the women being raped and the small kids. they will continue to be in danger.

[oxbow]

21. Reuters is carrying this story now

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060428/pl_nm/sudan_usa_congress_dc_1;_ylt=Ao9U8h2EkhEk.fODv2knYkuMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw--

[Neil Lisst]

22. Sheila Jackson representin' for Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland ...

... and the district they have all represented.

[Reader Rabbit]

25. Tom Lantos, Holocaust Survivor

This man's participation speaks volumes about this issue.

http://lantos.house.gov/HoR/CA12/About+Tom/A+Holocaust+Survivor/

I never even knew that there was a survivor in Congress. Wow.

[tishaLA]

31. He was in a great film a few years ago...

Called The Last Days, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary, IIRC. Oh, now that I followed the link, it mentions that at the bottom! But if you get a chance, watch it because it's quite powerful.

I'm very proud of these people for standing up for their principles.

[Stand and Fight]

27. Good... I am so proud of them.

Their actions represent a profile in courage, and it is with great pride that I will tell others that they're Democrats.

[Just Me]

29. Inspiring. Hopeful. Awesome.

Now, let them join us in protesting the criminals out of the executive branch of the U.S.A. :bounce:

[Opusnone]

30. Strangely absent: repukes and buy-bull bangers

Where's Dobson? DJ Kennedy? Robertson? Falwell? Donoghue? Bozell? Ingraham? Limbaugh?

[VP505]

34. Could this be

section 605 of the USA Patriot Act in action, the section that created the Uniformed Secret Service Police, and authorized them to arrest for ANY REASON, decided by them.???

[TahitiNut]

35. Isn't it interesting how different politicians get jailed??

Duke Cunningham (R-Greedsville) gets arrested for rape and plunder and Jackson-Lee & Co. (D-Alamo) get arrested for exercising freedom of speech and dissent.

That's Bushoilini's Amrika. :eyes:

[KoKo]

42. I'm still waiting for those arrested/ handcuffed protesting Iraq Invasion

...but then...I should have known better.......

[Options Remain]

36. Olver is my congresscritter

and I wrote him a letter w a donation today because of this. Leading by example and demonstrating actual priorities for the win. :kick:

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

37. HOW YOU CAN HELP

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Invisible Children
www.invisiblechildren.com

Invisible Children, Inc. is dedicated to providing financial resources to invisible children by documenting their true, untold stories in a creative and relevant way, resulting in positive change. On April 29th in more than 130 cities across the country, thousands will participate in The Global Night Commute to put an end to child abduction, the need for night commuting, and war in northern Uganda.

For more information, please visit www.invisiblechildren.com.

Creative Visions
www.creativevisions.org

Creative Visions' The Name Campaign seeks to end the conflict in Northern Uganda through awareness. They have collected the names of thousands of children abducted by Kony and have imprinted each one on a distinctive silver dogtag with a green band. All profits from the sale of the tags go to programs that support the children of Northern Uganda.

For more information, please visit www.creativevisions.org.

The International Rescue Committee
www.theirc.org

The International Rescue Committee is a global leader in emergency relief and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by conflict and oppression. The IRC is providing help to thousands of uprooted people fleeing ongoing violence in Darfur, Sudan. The conflict has driven more than 2 million people from their homes and into overcrowded camps, and as many as 400,000 people are now dead or have disappeared from Darfur.

In addition, the IRC works in all four conflict-affected regions of Uganda aiding victims of violence and providing assistance to the most needy. A total of 5 million people are estimated to benefit from the IRC's programs in Uganda.

For more information on the IRC, please visit www.theirc.org.

The Save Darfur Coalition
www.savedarfur.org
800-224-2084

The Save Darfur Coalition's mission is to raise public awareness and to mobilize an effective unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of 2 million people in the Darfur region. The Rally to Stop Genocide will take place in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2006. It will feature leading voices in the effort to stop genocide in Darfur.

For more information on the Rally to Stop Genocide and more, please visit www.savedarfur.org.

Genocide Intervention Network
www.genocideintervention.net

The Genocide Intervention Network envisions a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities. Its current mission is to empower individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide.

For more information, please visit www.genocideintervention.net.

World Vision
www.worldvision.org

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.

For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org.

Uganda Rising
www.ugandarising.com

For two decades, the Acholi people of Northern Uganda have been caught in a civil war between a rebel group whose main objective is inhumane terror and a government whose military response has often increased misery and suffering. Over one and a half million people have been displaced into camps and over 25,000 children have been abducted to be used as soldiers and sex slaves. And yet through it all, every day across Acholi-land something remarkable happens. Against a backdrop of dismal statistics, miniscule opportunity and unpredictable terror, in a part of Uganda forgotten by the world, children who have never known peace, face the day as if to live this way is normal, as if they still believe in the future. These children are the embodiment of resilience and hope. This film is the story of Uganda, her stolen children, and the fight to be free.

Uganda Rising is a Mindset Media Production. It will world premiere at HotDocs International Film Festival, May 4th, in Toronto, Canada. For more information, visit www.ugandarising.com.

UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org
800-4-UNICEF

Contributions to UNICEF's emergency relief efforts can help provide education, health care, nutrition, protection, clean water and sanitation to the children and women affected by the Pakistani earthquake disaster.

Women for Women International
www.womenforwomen.org

Get connected to a woman in need through Zainab Salbi's organization. The goal of Women for Women International is to take women from victim to survivor to active citizen. With the Emergency Response Fund, Women for Women International can move quickly to help women in post-conflict societies.

For more information, please visit www.womenforwomen.org.

[ananda]

38. Sheila is a shero around here..

You go Sheila!

[symbolman]

39. So now the BOOT ON THE FACE

as predicted by Orwell comes to fruition.

Here it is, they are arresting free thinking REPRESENTATIVES of the PEOPLE.

THis is an OUTRAGE, aren't WE covered by the 14th Amendment or is that exclusively for BUSH NOW?

I think it's starting.

The People should not fear their Govt, the Govt should Fear their People. (Just a quote from a movie Mr Gonzales, honest)

[Tanyah]

43. I'd rather they fought the bullshit about Iran

I just read this about Lantos and the Iran Freedom Support Act

The bill was passed 397-21. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL., and Congressman Tom Lantos, D-CA, who were instrumental in getting the bill passed, are now hoping for similar legislation from the Senate, where the issue is currently under consideration.

interesting. And most of the others voted for it as well. Only McGovern voted against it.

(NAYS-Baldwin, Blumenauer, Boyd, DeFazio, Duncan, Flake, Hostettler, Jones (NC)
Kucinich, Leach, McDermott, McGovern, McKinney, Oberstar, Obey, Olver
Paul, Rahall, Snyder, Stark, Taylor)

[linazelle]

44. Now let's wait for them to compare these mug shots to theirs

The caption: BOTH Dems and Repugs are criminals... :eyes:

[Savannah Progressive]

47. We can't get involved in Darfur, or anywhere.

Frankly, if the Repugnik war on the innocents in Iraq has demonstrated anything, it's that the military can't be used to stop a civil war.

Additionally, the last thing we want is those lunatics in uniform running around another nation loaded for bear with DU ammunition blasting away at every brown person they see.

[Clarkie1]

49. You are wrong.

4/20/06
General Wesley Clark: Why the U.S. should care about Darfur
NPR New and Notes

Ferai Chideya: But when you talk about united action, what do you mean? And I'm going to just tread on some sensitive ground here. In Kosovo and in the whole Balkans conflict, you had a bunch of white people who were dying, who were being killed by other white people. There seems to be a certain level of compassion fatigue about black people being killed by other black people or brown people and a lack of ability to mobilize international forces to the aid of groups like that.

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I don't know if it's racist. And I do know this, that the United States is heavily committed in Iraq right now and in Afghanistan. Certainly the administration's got it's hand full, and so does NATO, which is by the way, looking well beyond its borders. But here's something that's immediately important to do. I think with the right kind of leadership from the administration, we could focus NATO on this problem. I don't think it could be done without the presence of some US troops on the ground in the region, as well as US assistance with air power and command and control. But I think it's a relatively small number of US troops that would be required, and I think we could muster a large force of supporting troops. You know, in the occupation in Kosova, at the end of the war, the US troops were never in the majority in that operation. I think the most we ever had was on the order of five or six thousand US troops, and yet we had over 40,000 total troops involved in occupying Kosova. It shows what kind of leverage the United States can provide when the United States is engaged.

Ferai Chideya: Now the US has a complicated relationship with Sudan. We have mentioned energy, but also we've received valuable information from their Intelligence Minister, who was once Bin Ladin's personal handler and is considered an architect of the campaign in Darfur. Are we, as some reports would allege, a long Los Angeles Times series for example, enabling a genocide in exchange for intelligence in the war on terror?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: I suspect that the intelligence is of some utility, but I also believe that we've got to be very careful not to buy off on and endorse regimes like this just because they'll provide intelligence. There's no telling how valuable the intelligence really is. We don't know what part of it is accurate, what's inaccurate, and more importantly, we don't know that we're getting all that could be gotten. So, in this case I think the intelligence is, is certainly useful, but if the government of Sudan wants to remain a government in the world in good standing, then it's got to obey international law. It hasn't done that.

Ferai Chideya: International law often comes down to the United Nations. Now Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice recently called for an increased UN presence in Sudan, Particularly in Darfur, and the House, here in the US, recently passed a bill calling for action in Darfur and economic sanctions. Is that enough, are these rumblings enough, to make something happen?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: No, I don't think it is enough, because without a stronger international presence along the border, without US troops there to bring this mission home to world opinion, we won't have the leverage to stop the government of Sudan.

http://securingamerica.com/node/875

THE REAL STATE OF THE UNION 2006
THE NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION
Monday, January 30, 2006

I think we're making a big mistake. I've called publicly for the creation of an intervention force in Darfur. I think it's long overdue. As much as we respect the efforts of the African Union to try to get a grip on this problem, they simply lack the means to do so. They need assistance from the outside and I'd like see the United States lead NATO to provide that kind of assistance. It's got to be coordinated. It's got to be acceptable to the people on the ground, because they're the ones that have sovereignty over the terrain. But I think with the right approach, with the right will, with the right kind of force, we could do that and we could save thousands and thousands of lives. I think that when you can make a difference, you should. And we do have the power to make a difference in Darfur, and we should.

http://securingamerica.com/node/560

06 Apr 2004
VIEWPOINT-Ten years after Rwanda: Never Again?
If genocide were looming today, would the international response be any better than it was during the Rwanda genocide in 1994, asks Oxfam International Chairman David Bryer.

CLEAR GUIDES NEEDED
Ten years after Rwanda, the world must reapply itself to this most fundamental question. We urgently need an agreement among governments on clear and consistent principles to guide when the Security Council should act to protect civilians around the world. Military intervention should always be the last resort. The Canadian-backed report, "Responsibility to Protect," published in December 2001, lays out just such a framework. It argues that where a population is facing large-scale killings, which the state in question is unwilling or unable to halt, the principle of non-intervention yields to the international responsibility to protect civilians.

On a more practical level, we need to see the provision of forces and resources on the ground that were so tragically lacking in Rwanda. Throughout the three months of slaughter, from April to June 1994, there were ample opportunities for a relatively small, well-trained force to intervene and stop genocide in its tracks. There were many proposals -- not least from U.S. General Wesley Clark, who presented a plan for a small force to establish corridors of escape.

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thefacts/reliefresources/108...

[mdmc]

51. !

:patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot::patriot: