Prayer and Action to Save Darfur

In recent weeks, we have witnessed increased public attention and signs of meaningful action in America in response to the ongoing genocide in Darfur in the Sudan, which have been manifested in several encouraging ways. This is a crucial time, so don’t let this moment pass without having your voice heard as well, at least by our own government if not that of the Sudan.

First, in late March, the Sudanese government paid a million dollars to run an eight-page advertising supplement in the New York Times touting the purportedly peaceful climate and democratic culture in the Sudan, while aggressively marketing business and investment opportunities in that oil-rich nation [link here]. Still, even in the course of this public relations offensive, the Sudanese government was forced to acknowledge the ongoing tragedy in Darfur, if only by way of dismissal. The New York Times advertisement says that government “Ministers are frustrated that coverage of Sudan in the international media has focused almost exclusively on the fighting between rebels and Arab militias in the western province of Darfur.” Sudanese officials further are quoted as complaining that Darfur is not all there is to the Sudan.

How frustrating indeed it must be for the Sundanese government that the pesky international media (not to mention human rights groups and international organizations) would let a thing like genocide occupy so much attention. Importantly, this episode—in which the Sudanese government felt compelled to mention the situation and insist that it would be properly addressed—demonstrates that international efforts to restore human dignity for all people in Darfur are being heard. And they are being heard in the Sudan. Now is no time to rest but instead to redouble efforts.

Second, to follow-up up on an event whose planning I had reported in a prior posting, dozens of protestors, many from the Catholic Workers movement, marched to the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. on March 29 to highlight the injustice in Darfur. As I said previously, I tend to be quite critical of the use of civil obedience, not in its traditional form to refuse to obey an unjust law, but instead as a strategy to secure public attention by law-breaking. Still, if there were a cause that justified attention-getting-by-law-breaking, this would be it and the place to do it would be at the Sudanese embassy. And from reports of the event last week, it appears that the law enforcement agents making the arrests saw it that way as well, offering supportive and admiring words to the protestors, even as the officers did their job in arresting and processing them. You can read more about this event, and why some of the protestors believe being arrested during the demonstration was justified, on the website of the Catholic Workers in Worcester, Massachusetts [links here and here].

And I cannot leave unmentioned an additional dimension to this story, which says much about the heart of the Catholic Workers involved in this and other demonstrations about Darfur. While the protestors have left no doubt as to their fervent opposition to the policies of the Sudanese government, they simultaneously have demonstrated their respect and love for the human beings employed at the embassy. This of course only strengthens and makes concrete the protestors’ insistence upon honoring the dignity of every person. How have they done this? Well, by making a direct human connection. Last summer, the Catholic Workers volunteered to assist with landscaping improvement on the front grounds of the Sudanese embassy, working side-by-side with an embassy staffer. At last week’s protest, the Catholic Workers were pleased to see that the lawn remained in the new and improved state as they had left it (and to warmly greet the embassy staffer as well). [link]

[Side Note: Perhaps to the bemused surprise of my friends on the Mirror of Justice and elsewhere in the Catholic academic community, where my deserved reputation is rather conservative, I have to say that these Catholic Worker folks are growing on me. Not only have I found myself writing now on this blog for a second time about their efforts to promote human rights in the Sudan, but others have reported on this blog about the group that followed up the John Paul II conference at St. John’s last month by attending an anti-war poetry reading at the Catholic Worker house. While no one has yet “outed” me, I’ll go ahead and admit here that, yes, I was one of that small band that was shepherded by David Gregory from Queens to the East Village to spend a Friday night with the Catholic Workers. No, I’m not ready to join up, but I am pleased to find common ground on many things. And for us as Catholic legal thinkers to be a contradiction to our society, refusing to adhere to general ideological categories and reaching across arbitrary lines to each other, is an essential part of our mission here at the Mirror of Justice.]

Third, pending before Congress this month is an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill that would add $175 million for peacekeeping efforts in Darfur. This would be used to bolster the thin line of African Union troops trying to restore order and protect humanitarian efforts in that devastated region.

Fourth, and related to the third point, the Save Darfur Coalition is promoting this week (April 2-9) as a week of prayer and action. Further information can be found at SaveDarfur.org. The Coalition seeks to bring a million voices to bear on this issue, through an on-line postcard to President Bush (takes only a few seconds to include your voice). In addition, take a moment this week (or next) and send a message to your representative in Congress, urging additional funding for a multinational force to end the genocide in the Sudan. And as you go to Palm Sunday Mass, dedicate it through your prayers to the people of Darfur.