After the Emergency Rally for Darfur at the Federal Building Gabriel and KT-J went out to Orange County and set up the DARFUR tent on a homes rooftop. President Obamas helicopters flew right above it. The next day, they headed out to the NBC studios and set up the tent just a few steps from where Obama drove by. We hope that the big red DARFUR sunk in to the presidents conscience.

This amazing family from Arizona couldn’t sit idly by and not do anything while food, water, and basic medical care is RIGHT NOW being stolen away from over 1 million people in refugee camps in Darfur. They grabbed the family pets, hopped in the car, and drove for 6 1/2 hours to take a stand for Darfur in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles.

They are an inspiring demonstration of ordinary people getting out of their comfort zone, and going the extra (1,000) miles to shout out that they won’t be silent, and they won’t let the world turn a blind eye to the suffering in Darfur.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian speaks at an Emergency Rally for Darfur that was held in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles on March 17, 2009.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet of Mount Saint Mary’s College came out to the Emergency Rally for Darfur in front of the Federal Building, Los Angeles.

11:35 AM - Smiling, with open arms, and full of hellos, 15 Darfuri men flood the LA Federal Building. They drove from Phoenix, AZ to be here. All have families inside of Darfur. One man’s mother was forced to journey to Camp Djabal in E. Chad, where we will be in less than a week, and then into witness protection in Europe. Another only hears news from Khartoum. His family is spread through displacement camps and no one has a phone.

“We have been through this. Seen these things happen. We don’t know how to organize. So when we know when there is something [for Darfur], we come. We drop work, nothing [else] matters. We feel we need to do something.”

Drumming and chanting over the noise of horns and wheels treading on asphalt, they sing. I know they sing about Sudan, and I every once in a while I hear, Bashir’s name - they are also singing about Justice.

Brian Steidle, author of “The Devil Came On Horseback” talks with Gabriel Stauring of Stop Genocide Now.

Come join Brian Steidle, and many others today:

EMERGENCY RALLY for Darfur
TODAY - March 17, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

It is our 5th night here at the Federal building in Los Angeles. After being frustrated and angry and doing a lot of venting, last Thursday we just grabbed a tent and came out here. We can at any time go home, so it’s not really taking a risk. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but shouldn’t we be willing get outside of our comfort zone, especially those of us doing anything related to this full-time? What’s been cool about being here is meeting others that were just waiting for the opportunity to get out and yell that what is happening in Darfur is not right, and they are willing to step outside of their comfortable world to make this statement. Emily is one of the dozens of people that have done activist shifts here. She left just a few minutes ago, well after 11pm.

Emily (left) and Suzie, putting in the hours.

Here is what Emily has to say:

Who knew being an activist for Darfur could be so rewarding? I, Emily Berg, college student at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, have been “demonstrating” with others from the community who are passionate about the issues in Darfur. I’ve found that being out on the street has served a higher purpose for myself and those around me; the simple act of holding a sign will send a message to someone driving by that they, too, can make a difference. Today and tonight I’ve felt a change for the good. The good comes out in people organizing the events, people holding signs, people honking as they drive by and people who stop and ask questions. The beauty is in the simplicity of knowing that one person can, indeed, send a message. The person who’s example I followed was Brian Steidle in his film, “The Devil Came on Horseback”. Through his film he influenced me to come out and help, but little did I know that I would end up meeting him today. Words cannot express how much gratitude I feel towards the people who dedicate their lives to creating a better and safer world. The experience alone has created, within me, a force to be reckoned with. I am overjoyed I’ve been able to participate and cannot wait to be involved farther down the line!

Emily

Here are more pictures from today:

She came and asked: “Is it OK if I hold this sign?”

Little G, trying to do double activism at once.

Urgent Action Events being created across the country - JOIN one during these critical hours for Darfur. Today is Day 12 since 16 aid organizations have been kicked out.

NEW YORK, NY: Tuesday, March 17, 12pm-2pm @ US Mission to the UN, 45th St. between 3rd & Lexington

NOTE to the Darfuri community from NY: Please exercise caution in joining our activities, although our action is focused on bringing help to the displaced, we do not know if the Sudanese government will retaliate against Sudanese nationals who participate (we do know that they made efforts to record participation at the rally for the ICC). Please consider whether you would endanger any family members before you participate in any action.

BOSTON: Wed. Mach 18, 4-6pm @ Boston’s City Hall Plaza, Government Plaza, Print & Hand Out Flier

FAITH GROUPS Call to Action: This Weekend March 20-22 @ your place of worship. Genocide is a moral and human issue!

If you have an event in your city, let us know and we will post it!

In two days we can expect two minivans of Darfuris from Phoenix, AZ to join us for OUTRAGE @ LA Federal Building.

Between 6 and 14 men,women, and older children will make the journey across states to join others in standing up for the people of Darfur. It has almost been two weeks since aid organizations have been expelled, that means many of the supplies (that have not yet been stolen or seized) will run out very soon. They may have already. The families and friends of these Darfuris are in severe danger in the displacement camps in Darfur. STAND WITH THEM! STAND FOR DARFUR!

Several of the men coming have spoken on numerous occasions and been interviewed by their local ABC and NBC affiliates.  They will address the crowd at the rally!

Download a flier - spread the word and most importantly JOIN US. Darfuris are driving from Arizona in solidarity with their brothers and sisters who may be forced to walk 10-15 days across the desert.

We can ALL take the time to stand in solidarity with them.

PSSSST  Download this FLIER - SPREAD THE WORD

We got one break today to visit a group of Sisters for a presentation on Darfur. Gabriel started off with a quick note about why we look rather ragged and tired, dirty jeans and, of course, running slightly late. I was tired. I almost cried three times during the presentation. The first was during his disclaimer, the second when Gabriel was retelling the story of Farha, a story I have heard at least a hundred times, and finally when during the video when I see the hands of all the children of Camp Kounoungo cover mine in a game we had been playing.

Our lives intertwined.

There was a rotating, yet consistent group of upstanders today who chose to give up hours of their Saturday to hold signs and pass out fliers. My mother was actually approaching cars in the lane closest to us, asking them to roll down their windows, handing them a flier and telling them to please text Clinton. The lives of each and every one of the people who came out today are intertwined with the lives of the Darfuris we are standing for. A UCLA professor and two UCLA Darfur Action Committee members (the weekend before finals!), a couple from Redondo Beach and their lil’ black doggie, a friend from Portland, OR, a high schooler from New Roads and two more from another high school, Tsivia from Jewish World Watch with son in tow, Gabriel’s nephew and friends, Brian Steidle, Andi, and an artist, and, of course the Armenian community standing for their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters of Darfur.

As one Humanity.

People drop off water and food for us, and then hold signs telling the world that soon, in Darfur, these essential supplies will run out. Honk 4 Darfur, Take Action Now, Text Darfur 90822, Stop Genocide. People honk, wave, hold up their phones and wave peace signs. Red paint across the white poster board CAN BE seen across the twenty-one lanes of traffic.

Demands Action by All.

Obama is coming to town on Wednesday and Thursday. Big Rally Tuesday, but there is still Sunday and Monday. There is still tonight!

Please join us. For an hour, for three, for the night. Our lives intertwined. As one Humanity. Demands Action by All. Please come out! Darfur us all.

Jewish World Watch Executive Director, Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug, stands with the people of Darfur at the Federal Building in Los Angels, at Wilshire. She talks about the urgency of what is happening in Darfur right now, and urges everyone to participate in action at Federal Building starting March 12. A large rally is scheduled for Tuesday March 17 from 4 to 7pm. Come out and take action NOW!

Scenes from the first two days of action at the Federal Building in Los Angeles. KT-J talks about an encounter with an informed and concerned supporter. Fr. Vazken and Brian Steidle talk with people that stopped to find out what was going on. The heavy Wilshire Blvd traffic shows support through non-stop honking, and the Fire Dept. trucks shine their spot-lights on us for support.

Here’s some pictures from the Federal Building in Los Angeles

If you are interested in coming bring warm clothes, sleeping bag or blankets, and water!

We’re going in to 2nd night here. Heavy honking and conversations with people from cars. It was 7 of us here–now 5. Thousands and thousands of people seeing and hearing DARFUR. We know genocide will not stop today because of us here, but it feels right to be here, and others are getting the message.

Cool that Darfuris from Phoenix want to come! They come because it’s their family in the desert! That’s what we must get others to feel, that we’re all family (corny, but the whole city of LA would be out here tonight, if it was their family, their blood family, in the desert).

We just had a fire engine shine its floodlights and honk for Darfur.

It was cool to talk with Brian, and he grabbed a sign and talked with people; one guy stopped because he recognized Brian from his movie; he spoke with us for a long time, and now he wants to volunteer.

Fr. V is the man! He came out himself in the morning and is getting people to be here. Check out the video below!

Car just stopped on green light to ask what was happening. Not safe!

Another car just stopped. It was an elderly lady that said she was Armenian and part of the first modern genocide. She asked Willow (sgn team) if she could give her some money to help.

My little SGN team has been so amazing. We were on full-on preparations for going to refugee camps in a week, and we still are! But they took on all the extras from this- web/editing/media/coming out with food and so much more. Yuen-Lin told me, “There’s nothing more important for me to be doing right now.” Besides KTJ and I, no one on my team has ever received a cent for personal salary or stipend. They actually have donated too much, besides their time and talents.

OK, just feeling strongly about this. Of course, being a bit tired helps with the feelings :)

We need to change the game. All levels of activism are needed, but when we know the extremes of the dangers for the people we are working for–the reason why we’re all in contact right now–we have to move beyond traditional. Hell, we have been doing all the traditional forms of activism while here, on the sidewalk–e-mails, faxes, txts, and calls to White House, State Department, and Congress. The movement can do those in our sleep. It cannot be the only thing we do right now. We need to make this intense; we need to make it relentless.

OK, I’ll stop. It’s very cool that I have wifi and my computer plugged in to a battery. –So our high-tech refugee camp continues here on Wilshire blvd!

Fr. Vazken stopped by and spoke with Gabriel.

URGENT ACTION ALERT!

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a landmark arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir of Sudan. Just hours later, President Bashir expelled 16 humanitarian organizations from Sudan, placing millions of Darfuri civilians at immediate risk. Bashir is holding innocent lives hostage in order to retain his own grip on power.

4.7 million innocent people are currently affected by the conflict – more than the populations of the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco put together. Without the assistance provided by the humanitarian organizations expelled, well over a million internally displaced Darfuris are at immediate risk. With the rainy season quickly approaching, organizations are expecting widespread death from disease and starvation as millions lose access to food, water, medicine and adequate shelter.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Join Jewish World Watch, Stop Genocide Now, HOPE, and other activist and citizens throughout Southern California as they make a permanent presence in front of the Federal Building to demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Activists will be present throughout each day and night, but we will be concentrating our efforts during the time periods listed below. Please make a particular effort to join us Tuesday, March 17 for a big push!

Where:
Federal Building
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

When: All Day and Night and these times for higher concentration:
Thursday, March 12: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, March 13: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 14: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 15: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday, March 16: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 17: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

* Click here to see who is signed up. Click here to sign up, or just scroll down to see the form.
** If you stay for more than 3 hours you will get a Humanity before Politics T-shirt!
*** Let us know if you are interested in staying overnight: email i-actinfo@stopgenocidenow.org. We have tents!

What to Bring: Signs! Possible slogans include:

DARFUR - MILLIONS AT RISK!
DARFUR - MILLIONS COULD DIE - WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR - ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!
DARFUR EMERGENCY!
DARFUR - MILLIONS IMMEDIATELY FACE
NO FOOD
NO WATER
DISEASE
STARVATION
DEATH

DARFUR - MILLIONS COULD DIE - WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR - ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!

Millions of lives hang in the balance - please send this link out widely, to everyone you know! Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, emails, phone calls. Urgent action is needed now. Our leaders must see that we care.