Video from the Washington D.C. Finale |
Finale in Washington D.C.
Jirair Ratevosian
10 December 2007
The Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay concluded its journey around the U.S. on December 10 in Washington D.C. The Relay visited more than 30 cities around the U.S. between September and December and called on China to use its influence over the government of Sudan and do more to end genocide in Darfur.
To conclude the campaign, hundreds of Darfur activists accompanied the torch from the shadows of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. Supporters gathered at the Holocaust Museum with signs, banners and posters and heard from speakers including Charlie Clements of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and Reverend Bill Schulz of the Center for American Progress.
The group then marched to Lafayette Park in front of the White House. Speakers at Lafayette Park included Reverend Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, Gayle Smith of the ENOUGH Campaign, and Adam Taylor of Sojourners. Supporters and speakers reminded Congress and the Bush administration to live up to our commitment to help protect the lives of the millions of victims of the genocide.
Supporters then took the torch to the Sudanese Embassy where I was torn between frustration and hope. I was frustrated because we stood at the same location where, five years ago, Congressman Donald Payne and others were arrested protesting slavery and genocide in Sudan. Yet, little has changed. But hope eclipsed my frustration when I heard the speakers and the roaring crowd call on Khartoum to end this genocide. Speakers at the Sudanese Embassy were Motasim Adem of the Darfur People’s Association of New York, Darfurian Niemat Ahmadi, and Hilary Shelton of the NAACP.
After the two-hour rally, we made our way to the Chinese Embassy. We walked along sidewalks lined with screens signed by activists from the cities the torch visited on its U.S. leg. Our group took over the entire front lawn of the embassy grounds and heard from a host of speakers including Olympic athletes Nathaniel Mills, Vince Poscent, Nikki Stone, and Joey Cheek.
We heard also testimonies from people affected by genocide. Joining the Olympic athletes were Holocaust survivor Nesse Godin, Bosnian genocide survivor Jasenka Besic, and Jirair Ratevosian, a descendent of victims of the Armenian genocide.
Other speakers included actress and activist, Mia Farrow, Jill Savitt of the Dream for Darfur Campaign, Mohamed Yahya of the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, radio talk show host Joe Madison, actress Melissa Fitzgerald, Rev. Gloria White-Hammond of My Sister's Keeper, and Rabbi David Saperstein of Religious Action Center.
I’ve been privileged to be intimately involved with the Dream for Darfur Campaign since the beginning of the campaign. I helped plan torch relays in Yerevan, Boston, New York, and Washington. Rally after rally, I have heard the compelling voices of survivors of genocide and felt the power of the global movement to save Darfur. Working together we are building a worldwide anti-genocide movement that will one day help bring peace and protection to Darfur.
One day, we will give true meaning to the words “never again”.
Redding, CA Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Marv Steinberg
16 November 2007
Close to fifty residents participated in the Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay in Redding, California on Friday, November 16. Sponsored by Genocide No More-Save Darfur of Redding and led by a contingent of high school students, the group walked from the Shasta County Court House to the Redding City Hall, where they were greeted by Mayor Dick Dickerson. Education Resource Center student, Shawn Mason, took the first leg and Shasta High School student carried the torch for the final leg to the City Hall lawn. Others who carried the torch included Vice Mayor Mary Stegall and octogenarian Ted Klaseen.
At the City Hall the walkers were joined by about thirty more participants and, after Mayor Dickerson's welcome prayers were offered by Pastor Marty Murcdock of the 1st United Methodist Church, Sister Maura Poser of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Parich and Imam Abu Bakr Salahuddin of the Islamic Center of Redding. Organizer Marv Steinberg made a short statement, "We Are Here Because" and petitions calling on President Hu of China to take specific actions to help end the genocide in Darfur were circulated. Greg Lawson, accompied by his wife Vicki Ono, performed For the Camps, one of the songs on his CD, Songs for Darfur.
Speakers were Kali LIberman, a Foothill High School students, whose grandfather was a Holocaust survivor and who had met Darfur refugees when she visited Israel last summer and Dr. Jean Kachiga, a native of the Congo and Assistant Professor of Political Science and International History at Simpson University. Students from the Shasta High School Students Against Genocide Club and their advisor, teacher Judith Champagne, then responded to the speakers with Testimonies from Darfur and readings from Elie Wiesel and the Talmuc, the Gospel of Matthew, and Black Elk Speaks.
The evening ended with a "Call to Action" by Marv Steinberg and the lighting of candles from the Torch as Genocide No More--Save Darfur was played and sung by Greg Lawson and all those who participated in the ceremony. All of the local news outlets, the Redding Record-Searchlight, Channel 10 (CW), Channel 7R (ABC), Channel 12 (CBS), and Channel 24 (NBC) covered the events extensively. Pictures have been posted on Flicker.
Seattle Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Diane Baer, Ruth Clark, Deborah Jones, Ned Laskowski
4 November 2007
More than 200 people gathered on this blustery Sunday to make the statement: “Never again—not on our watch…Please China – use your influence to bring an end to the genocidal violence in Darfur Sudan”.
The site was the boardwalk at Alki Beach, the powerful waters of Puget Sound to the left. StopGenocideNOW’s Camp Darfur was to the right, reminding us of the 5 genocides of the 20th Century and the 1st of the 21st Century unfolding in Darfur. In the distance, relay participants could see Seattle’s Space Needle, the towering emblem of the Emerald City.
SaveDarfurWashingtonState together with The Save Darfur Coalition, Washington STAND and Dream for Darfur coordinated the effort locally with co-sponsorship and involvement of numerous high schools, churches and synagogues, humanitarian groups and individuals who want to make a difference. An extraordinary number of young people participated. Special recognition to the members of Inglemoor High School's Project Darfur group and their eye-catching green banner, noted in so many of the photos taken at the event. Whoever said activism is dormant among the young wasn’t there with us in Seattle on this day.
The end of the relay route housed a stage, with Thione Diop and his African drum group, Yeke Yeke. They played during the entire event—an especially powerful sound guiding the 7 legs of the relay as they gradually approached the stage. It was powerful, moving, uplifting. A local supporter who contacted us through the SDC website donated his coffee cart and good hot coffee to keep the crowd warm./p>
The Alki Beach Bathhouse, had been transformed into Action Station Central. Within were tables of information about Darfur, the Solar Cooker Project of Jewish World Watch, the documentary Darfur NOW, the divest Sudan movement and the DreamforDarfur WA State Quickscreen. Student t-shirt sales raised funds to provide solar cookers to 30 families in the camps. More than 300 letters to UNSG Ban Ki-Moon, Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush were signed and collected. Signatures were collected on two divestment petitions including one to the Seattle City Council.
Recognizing the Olympic vision of international unity, peace and brotherhood, Ruth Clark, SDWS Dream for Darfur Seattle co-coordinator, read the following Buddhist saying as the relay started:
As a net is made up by a series of knots, so everything in this world is connected by a series of knots. If anyone thinks that the mesh of a net is an independent, isolated thing, he is mistaken.
As the torch was lit she continued with these words: This flame honors those who have been lost and those who suffer, while celebrating the courage of those who have survived.
This flame symbolizes the hope we share for an end to the violence in Darfur and an end to genocide everywhere.
The seven torch bearers took their places and the procession moved toward the stage: First, 27 year old Southern Sudanese refugee Marial Nhiel assisted by local advocate for the Sudanese cause, Maury ‘Papa’ Clark. When he was 7, Marial’s leg was deliberately shot off by a Northern Sudanese soldier. Marial carried the torch to honor and show his support for his fellow countrymen and women who are suffering in Darfur; Maury was there to support the Sudanese refugees whom he refers to as his ‘kids’ and to raise awareness about Darfur.
Representing youth, members of Project Darfur from Ingelmoor High School, were next.
Then came Shelly Rosen carrying the torch representing the victims of the Rwandan genocide, both those who perished and those who survived. Her t-shirt, brought back from Rwanda, read: ‘He who does not learn from Rwanda is doomed to repeat it in Darfur’
Fourth in the procession were teenagers, Raezel Geiser and Rebecca Calderon representing the Temple Beth Am Youth Group and carrying the torch to honor the memory of victims of the Holocaust.
Next were representatives from SaveDarfurWashingtonState, a grassroots nonprofit that has worked tirelessly over the past two and a half years to raise awareness about and empower advocacy for the people of Darfur. Agnes Oswaha, a Sudanese refugee together with Phil Ginsberg, one of the co-founders, led this group. They carried the torch to honor those who have been lost and those who suffer, bringing light to China’s role in Sudan.
Sixth were representatives from STAND, the national student anti-genocide coalition, with students from The University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Lake Stevens High School.
The final torch bearer was Ibrahim Musa Adam from the village of Jadara in Northern Darfur. He was remembering the 80 people of his village who were killed when it was destroyed in July 2003 and the many members of his family who were killed and who are still missing. His participation in the relay gives us hope for ending this genocide and hope for his family members and other survivors being able to reunite in peace.
After Ibrahim placed the still burning torch in front of the stage, Deborah Jones, SDWS Dream for Darfur Seattle co-coordinator introduced a series of speakers.
Elected officials from the county, state and US Congress expressed their support and encouragement to continue this advocacy work. State Senator Adam Kline brought forth his experience as an American Jew born during the Holocaust era, emphasizing the importance of advocacy toward saving innocent lives. SDWS board member Ned Laskowski read a statement of support from US Congressman Reichert, 8th WA.
Each speaker emphasized the importance of action now and the reasons why China is the focus. Speakers included: Ben Prozchaska, SDC Torch Relay Coordinator; Maury Clark; Katie Jay Scott, Outreach Coordinator for StopGenocide NOW.
The final speaker, Ibrahim Adam, spoke emotively about his family, his country, and the desolation and sadness that he has felt. He also spoke about the hope he has in seeing such a group speaking out and letting China and the world know that we will not stand silently by this time.
The event ended with the powerful Paul Rusesabagina quote read by Ruth Clark: A sad truth of human nature is that it is hard to care for people when they are abstractions, hard to care when it is not you or somebody close to you. Unless the world community can stop finding ways to dither in the face of this monstrous threat to humanity those words ‘Never Again’ will persist in being one of the most abused phrases in the English language and one of the greatest lies of our time.
Salt Lake City Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Chuck Bruder
3 November 2007
The day was chilly, but beautiful as more than 150 Utahns came from far and wide to raise their voices together in silent outrage and protest over the continuing ethnic cleansing being conducted by the Government of Sudan against the proud and innocent farmers of Darfur. These good people had come together to commemorate Utah's observance of the Olympic Dream for Darfur by attending a candlelight vigil and rally hosted by Salt Lake Saves Darfur, the local organization of the Save Darfur Coalition.
The rally featured appearances and speeches by local Darfuri and Sudanese survivors along with a rousing address by Salt Lake’s dynamic out-going mayor, Mayor Rocky Anderson, the author of the anti-genocide resolution that he proposed and was adopted by the US Conference of Mayors. The mayor chastised the Bush administration for doing far too little to aid those being killed and displaced, while billions are spent to carry on the war in Iraq - a war he called an ''utter fiasco.'' Anderson called upon those assembled to “ring the hell out of the phones on our representatives desks, telling them that we’re not going to tolerate inaction on this atrocity any longer.”
The assembled crowd was silent in the waning sunlight of the first day of the return to standard time, as the torch was passed from hand to hand in the shadow of the great Olympic flame which graced Salt Lake 5 years earlier during the 2002 Winter Olympics it hosted. Chuck Bruder, the chairman of Salt Lake Saves Darfur said, “As the daylight dims, so do the hopes of the Darfuris who are dying - one every five minutes in this atrocity, and China’s complicity in fueling this horror through its petrodollar investment dims forever the glory of the Olympic flame.”
Utahns raise voices in a plea for peace in Darfur By Nathan C. Gonzalez . The Salt Lake Tribune
Rhode Island Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Sandra Hammel
27 October 2007
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” (Martin Luther King Jr.) were the words that began the day.
On October 27, The Providence, Rhode Island Dream for Darfur Torch Relay and Ceremony was welcomed by student and community activists, despite the forecast for rain. In Rhode Island’s first opportunity to come together and stand united with people around the world, the message is to bring the Beijing Olympics theme of “One World, One Dream” to Darfur.
After lighting the torch at the Fidelity Investment Company door, a Darfur family, the Mays, began the relay. 50 gathered people cited three statements of solidarity for the Darfur people and ten-year old Sara Mays struck the gong 8 times – the Chinese lucky number. At the RI Statehouse lawn, Edwin Mutanguha carried the torch up the hillside of steps handing the torch to his twin brother, Edward Mutanguha. Edward carried the torch to the stage at the Statehouse plaza to the song of “Miyela Africa”. The crowd, wearing t-shirts stating “I CARRY THE TORCH FOR DARFUR”, grew to 180.
Speakers included U.S. RI Representative James Langevin, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Mindy Wachtenheim, Board of Director member of the Holocaust Education and Resource Center in Providence, Rhode Island, Scott Warren, Executive Director of STAND and Sandra Hammel, the Providence organizer. Keynote speakers were twin nineteen year old Rwandans, Edward and Edwin Mutanguha, freshmen at Salve Regina University in Newport.Edward and Edwin shared their experiences with genocide. The attendees leaned in to listen as they told us about their life as refugees for 7 years: speaking to a man who had his arm chopped off to keep his head from being severed in Rwanda’s genocide, being told by the elementary school principal not to eat fish in the river because their countrypeople’s bodies were floating down it, constantly feeling uneasy and unwelcome. Edwin said, “Today I stand in front of you as a student, a fellow human being and a responsible citizen of the world. Today, we are all uniting for a common cause, all from different backgrounds, but with one thing in mind, to be responsible for each other and be conscious of what is going on around us. Our world is becoming a global village and it is no longer possible for us to live obliviously and inconsiderately.”
Edward spoke from his heart “I would like to remind everybody about something that you have that the rest of the world envies: your FREEDOM. With this freedom, comes rights. I urge you to use your rights as citizens of a free nation to help the people of Darfur obtain their freedom and their right to live.” The Mutanguha young men’s wish is for people to know what is happening to the Darfur people and to do what it takes to stop the genocide.
Applause broke out when Sandra Hammel said, "'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) We are here to say we are not silent about Darfur."
Music was provided by the RI Darfur Ensemble, including “A Prayer for Africa” in Swahili; African instruments accompanied “Kwaheri”, also in Swahili. “One Voice” with Darfur lyrics infused and the inspiring song, “Stand Up for Love”.
Attendees also signed the Dream for Darfur Petition to the International Olympic Committee to tell the IOC: “Bring the Olympic Dream to the People of Darfur”.
Hartford, Connecticut Olympic Torch Relay
Danielle Millard
21 October 2007
Our Hartford event was truly amazing. Having such a mix of people planning, participating, and attending really made this event special. We had people from different religions, cultures, and ages. Our event began with the torch passing across the street at the park.
Our speakers then shared their stories. We had a good MC who tied all the stories together and made the crowd feel involved in the event. We also had a musician who would play a song after every 3 or so speakers. This helped give the event the feeling of hope and inspiration over despair.
Through feedback after the event, and also my own personal sentiment, I believe having the genocide survivors sharing their stories was what really made the event. It is important to let the speakers write their own words, but I wish we had given them more guidance as to what we wanted them to say. Giving them a time idea (one page or 2-3 minutes) was very helpful.
As for media contacting the media with constant updates on new speakers kept us on their radar. When we first spoke to media we also tried to ask them what types of stories they were looking for and then help them see how that story fit our event. The other helpful tool was looking for individuals who had already written on Darfur and contacting them personally. Contacting radio stations proved worthwhile. A co-organizer and I did two radio interviews and another station advertised our event. Lastly, after the event don’t forget to follow up with the media.
I am getting story published this week in my local paper (about an hour from the event location) as a result to post event follow up!
An Emotional Call to Action . Hartford Courant, 22 October 07
Indianapolis Olympic Torch Relay
Carol Collins
14 October 2007
The Indianapolis Relay included a torch lighting and relay ceremony. The relay was comprised of Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, Carl Lavoncher, a member of the Miami Nation Tribal Council, Reverence Ravika, a Tibetan monk, and other members of the community who have experienced oppression. The Program provided an opportunity for impassioned speeches by Holocaust survivors Eva Kor and Michael Blain, and local community leader Joel Vestal of Serv Life International. The program also featured Iibada Dance Company, Anderson’s Youth Ballet Troop, African drummers ‘Urban Vibes’, Rhythm Wreckers, and BPN a group of students from Broadripple High School. A Social Justice Fair provided opportunities for those attending to take action by signing petitions and learn more about local groups helping Sudan. While the event provided an opportunity to bring members of the Darfur movement together, the focus was on generating significant attention on China’s ability to help Darfur.
The speaking program involved a number of genocide survivors, including Ibrahim Adam, from Darfur. The Sudanese army and the Janjaweed destroyed Ibrahim’s hometown. 80 people were killed in the massacre – 20 of whom were members of his family. Over 100 of his relatives now live in six different refugee and internally displaced persons camps in Darfur and Chad. Ibrahim’s sister has not seen her children or husband in three years because they were separated during the attacks. Ibrahim hopes to elevate awareness of the important role that China can play in ending the genocide in Darfur.
The Indianapolis Torch Relay received media coverage by all major news stations and by several local newspapers:
Indianapolis Star
Indiana Daily Student
Fox News Coverage of event
View a video clip of our event on YouTube
Lighting the Torch: Cincinnati Implores China to Bring Darfur Peace
Mica Darley
11 October 2007
On October 11th, amidst the grey of a clouded afternoon, University of Cincinnati’s Sigma Sigma Commons brimmed with the light of Olympic hopefuls – that is, citizens beseeching China to bring its Olympic spirit to Darfur. They called for China’s crucial support in pressuring the Sudanese government to end Darfur’s genocide.
Beneath the symbolic torch of UC'S Ronald Walker light tower, and around the buzzing crowd of students, faculty, and community activists who filled the Commons green, some of Cincinnati’s most respected citizens ran a torch relay to demand China’s divestment in genocide. Participants included Nick Clooney, renowned journalist and Darfur advocate; Henry Fenichel, Holocaust survivor; Dr. Mitchell Livingston, UC Vice-President; Leah Peelman, winner of the 2007 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon; Mary Wineburg, 400 meter runner-in-training for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games; Billy Hatcher, Cincinnati Reds first-base coach and member of the Reds’ 1990 World Series team; Rabbi Ingber, Executve Director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center of Cincinnati; Father Hert of UC; Zeinab Schwen, president of the Cincinnati Council on American-Islamic Relations; Tony Stieritz, co-chair of Greater Cincinnati Advocates for Darfur, representing the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; and Homa Yavar, co-chair of GCAFD, representing Muslim Mothers Against Violence and the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati.
Following the relay, Clooney spoke of the need for sustained demands for U.N. protection of Darfur’s people. Yavar led the rallied crowd in inter-faith prayer for protection, patience, and perseverance in Darfur, where human rights violations continue without abatement. Well into the prayer, emotion seemed to overcome her; she was silent for several moments.
And in this broken space the crowd, gathered to proclaim that humanity’s noblest tradition should not broker injustice, fell silent too. All people of any and all religious persuasion and who believe in justice must gather up our moral courage and recognize that genocide has occurred, is occurring and can only abate when we look such evil in the face and say never again. This we will do in our homes, in our places of worship, in our workplaces, and in the halls of government, wherever we are, even as we hope for a better world….
Massachusetts Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Jirair Ratevosian
On Sunday, October 7, thousands of residents across Massachusetts stood united with survivors of modern day genocide and urged China to use its unique political and economic influence to help bring peace, protection, hope and the Olympic dream to Darfur.
Earlier in the day, communities throughout Massachusetts, including Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Cape Cod, Attleboro, Andover, Westboro, Waltham and Winchester, held local torch relay events. These communities then united with genocide survivors at City Hall Plaza for a culminating torch-lighting ceremony in the heart of Boston’s Government Center.
Under the shadow of the Holocaust Memorial, the ceremony began with reflection and recollection by genocide survivors from Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan. Listening to genocide survivors was an emotional experience. Seeing them stand together, though heartbreaking, was powerful. Their courage and determination have given new hope and fuel to continue building the anti-genocide movement.
Other featured speakers included Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, M.D., Co-founder, My Sister’s Keeper; Jill Savitt, Director, Dream for Darfur Campaign, U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney of the 6th District of Massachusetts, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, President Elect of the National Council of Churches and Eric Cohen and Sifa Nsengimana, co-chairs of the MA Coalition to Save Darfur.
Participants at Boston’s culminating ceremony were asked to sign a petition and be photographed for a photo montage. Both the text of the petition as well as the graphic elements of the photo montage reinforce our message to China to please do more to help the people of Darfur. The montage and petition signatures will soon be printed and distributed to Chinese government officials, attendees, national and international lawmakers and also various media outlets. For continued coverage and additional details about the MA Dream for Darfur event, please visit madreamfordarfur.org.
The Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay has reaffirmed once again that our hard work and shared dedication to the people of Darfur is only strengthened when we work together. Our voice is louder when we speak together and our actions are greater when we act together. In solidarity for the work that lies ahead!
MEDIA COVERAGE:
Olympian Ideals Should Never Be Tarnished in Blood
Armenian Weekly, October 13, 2007
China urged to help in Sudan
Jewish Advocate, October 12, 2007
Genocide survivors urge China to address Darfur
Boston Globe, October 8, 2007
Genocide survivors bring cause to Boston
Boston Herald, October 8, 2007
Survivors cry for end to genocide
Boston Herald, October 7, 2007
Genocide survivor now shifting her focus toward Darfur
Boston Metro, October 5, 2007
Pittsburgh Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
David Rosenberg
8 October 2007
As our city’s part in this campaign, the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition (PDEC) organized a 12.5 mile relay in which the Olympic torch was run through a number of city neighborhoods, starting in Squirrel Hill, then Oakland, Homewood, East Liberty, the Hill District, the Bluffs and into Downtown.
At the opening ceremonies at the Holocaust Memorial in front of the J.C.C. in Squirrel Hill, Jack Sittsamer, President of the Pittsburgh Holocaust Survivors Group, lit the torch and offered a stirring plea to work against this and any future atrocities such as he experienced as a Jew growing up in Poland under Nazi domination. State Rep. Dan Frankel, a strong supporter of state Sudan divestment in the Pennsylvania legislature, urged the state senate to help make Pennsylvania the 21st state to divest its pension funds from companies that assist the Sudanese government and military, and then began the running of the torch on the first leg of the Relay. Rotimi Abimbola, a Nigerian-born student from CMU, carried the torch from Temple Sinai on Forbes Avenue down to Oakland, where the Pitt STAND chapter, headed by Cara Baldari, organized a supportive crowd of about 80 students and onlookers. Jordan Hinds, a longtime PDEC member and marathoner, Lainy Jewart of Jewart’s Gymnastic in the North Hills, Robert Carter, Dr. Yinka Aganga-Williams, and Sudanese student Christine Benaiah were other runners over the 12.5 mile route.
Passing through the Duquesne University Campus, the torch finally was delivered to the steps of the City County Building, where it was again lighted and passed from Congressman Mike Doyle, to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, to M. Gayle Moss, President of the NAACP, to Esther Bush, President of the Urban League, to County Councilman Bill Robinson, to Jessica McCurdy, an aide of Councilman Peduto and to Cara Baldari, Christine Benaiah and Ojok Ojok, all of whom offered remarks. Attendees, starting with the Mayor and Congressman Doyle signed the large green screen earmarked specifically for Pittsburgh.
Earned press coverage included: TV coverage through WPXI-PCNC on the 10/8/2007 evening news; live radio interview and four-five capsule reports during the day of on KQV Newsradio; a captioned photo of Rep. Frankel running (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, October 9); a feature article in the city’s Jewish Chronicle, including two photos one on front page from the Relay; lead article with color photo in the Pitt News, student newspaper.
Michigan Dream for Darfur Torch Relay
Chuck Breen
5 - 7 October 2007
Dear Friends of the Michigan Darfur Coalition,
Congratulations to all the organizers and runners of the Dream for Darfur Torch Run. The event was inspiring and powerful. Thousands of people became aware of our cause through the media and by running a torch through the public corridors of our state. We rode the spirit of endurance and determination by watching waves of runners struggle in nearly 90 degree heat. The undercurrent of the day was one of compassion and humanity.
We learned that the business of genocide is quite expensive, and that the perpetrators depend on our investments to keep the killing machine fueled. We learned from boys who witnessed the slaughter of their parents and we saw their pride as they carried torches in memory of those lost and those back home. We saw their bodies once disfigured by violence, but perhaps we saw a piece of their soul restored with your expression of compassion.
You were part of something that was larger than a run, a goal, an event, or a need to give back. You touched lives and you made a difference. Our message was clear on the steps of the Capitol; we will not stand silent while innocents are slaughtered. Let this not be our greatest effort or success.
Heartfelt thanks to all,
Tim Page, General Coordinator, The Michigan Darfur Coalition
Vermont Dream for Darfur
Brian Banks
20 September 2007
On September 30th, hundreds of Vermonters rallied together to bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur. The event was a huge success. Ben Prochazka brought the torch from New York City to the Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of Church Street, where it was passed to former US Alpine Olympians Doug Lewis and Rick Chaffee. The group marched down Church Street behind the torch, and drew the attention of previously unaware shoppers in its wake.
The band Funk Wagon drew the march into City Hall Park. Here, the profound and inspiring words of former Governor and Ambassador Madeline Kunin, Sudanese refugees Atem Deng and Alex Pial, Bosnian refugee Dzeneta Karabeghovic, Holocaust survivor Michael Bukanc, and human rights activist Serena Chaudhry, echoed not only throughout Burlington, but the entire state. Barefoot Truth, Falline Music, and UVM students provided rousing music that brought forth a call to social justice.
All major news agencies in the area were present. We count the rally a success because those who knew about China’s involvement in Darfur were further edified and motivated, and we believe the people were instilled with the knowledge that there is something each one of us can do to stop the genocide in Darfur.
Planning a rally in Vermont out of one dorm room in Washington, DC and one in Providence, RI was certainly a challenge. The vision of the rally changed daily. Thus, one of the most important characteristics an event organizer must have is a malleable idea of what the event will look like. For every plan that falls through (speakers that back-out, film-rights issues, venue challenges, etc), there is another more creative one to take its place.
Another key asset is contacts. The rally would not have been possible without the help of networks within Vermont, such as NESEI, STAND and Amnesty International. Publicity was one of our greatest challenges. Had we been in Vermont during preparation, we could have put up more flyers, and physically gotten the word spread around the state. When push came to shove, everyone rallied together and we pulled off an amazing event. Though it may not be the largest event in the country in terms of numbers, those who attended were there to listen, learn and take action.
U.S. Olympic Torch Relay kicks off in New York
Jill Savitt
Director
Dream for Darfur
On September 9, I joined Daoud Hari, a Darfuri survivor, and Amber Stachowski, an Olympic water polo medalist, in lighting a torch at the first stop on the Dream for Darfur US symbolic Olympic Torch Relay. This New York event signaled the start of the US Torch Relay that is taking place in solidarity with our international relay from "Darfur to Beijing" that travels to countries associated with genocide and mass slaughter.
In a powerful ceremony, we heard from survivors of genocides throughout the past century, who shared their experiences and called on the international community to take action to end the genocide in Darfur. Survivors from Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur ranged in age from just over twenty to ninety-eight. Although their personal experiences with violence and mass slaughter varied, their pleas to end the violence in Darfur reflected a shared history. What was clear to all present was that the scars of genocide last long after the violence has ended - indeed for generations.
The survivors exhibited great courage as they spoke on behalf of victims of genocide, both past and present. Loung Ung, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide whose parents and two of her siblings were murdered when she was only eight years old, said, "In my young life, I have witnessed the worst of man's inhumanity to man, but here with the other survivors, and with all of you, I am also witnessing the best of man's humanity to man-the courage to care and the resolve to make 'never' again a reality.
I leave this weekend for Yerevan, Armenia for the third leg of our international torch relay. On Tuesday, Dream for Darfur will join Armenian survivors, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other Darfur advocates in asking China to "Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur."
We hope you all can join us in sending this powerful message to China by attending one of the upcoming torch relay events near you.