Powerful names in politics, religion, sports and entertainment are expected to join forces next week for a rally on the National Mall, calling for an end to human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of the Sudan.
The locally organized “Save Darfur: Rally to Stop Genocide,” sponsored by the L Street NW-based Save Darfur Coalition, is scheduled to feature Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, and country music stars Big and Rich.
Chuck Thies, a D.C. political consultant and event manager, is directing the rally. Four thousand people have signed up so far, Thies said Monday, with 200 buses confirmed.
“When people understand … that summary execution takes place every day, that babies are thrown into bonfires, that women are raped every day, then people understand this is a genocide and they will not sit idly by,” he said.
Darfur erupted in civil strife in 2003. Humanitarian groups say the Sudanese government and government-backed militias then started waging war against innocent civilians. It is estimated that upward of 400,000 people have died and more than 2 million residents have been driven from their homes.
The rally is slated for 2 to 4:30 p.m. April 30 between Third and Fourth streets in front of the U.S. Capitol. For more information, visit www.savedarfur.org/rally.
Other rally attendees
» Radio host Joe Madison
» Dr. Richard Land, president, Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission
» The Rev. John L. McCullough, executive director and CEO of Church World Service
» Rabbi David Saperstein, director of Religious Action Center
» Manute Bol, former professional basketball player
