The Sudan Takes Center Stage
Demonstrators Rally In Washington To Urge Action To Stop Genocide In Darfur
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Play CBS Video Video A Rallying Cry For Darfur Different religious groups organized a protest rally at the Mall in Washington, D.C., and cities across the U.S. to bring attention to the tragedy in the African region of Darfur. Joie Chen reports.
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Video Thousands Attend Darfur Rally CBS News RAW: To draw attention to the genocide in Darfur, thousands attended a rally in Washington, D.C., in an effort to push President Bush into firm action on Sudan.
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Video Bringing Attention To Darfur CBS News RAW: Music mogul Russell Simmons spoke at the Save Darfur rally on the mall in Washington, D.C. and the need to take action before the situation in Sudan turns dire.
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"Never again!" a slogan which originally referred to the Holocaust, was again in force at Sunday's Washington D.C. demonstration calling for an end to genocide in the Sudan. (AP)
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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, at the Washington rally against genocide in Sudan, with actor George Clooney (right) and his father, former journalist Nick Clooney, who are speaking out on the issue. (AP)
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Demonstrators faced the U.S. Capitol Sunday, April 30, 2006, as they called on President Bush and Congress to use their political clout to help stop atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. (AP)
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There were no arrests Sunday but five members of Congress (above, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, in a squad car) were arrested Friday at a protest outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. (AP)
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Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., is handcuffed as he and four other members of Congress (not pictured) were arrested while demonstrating Friday outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. (AP)
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Photo Essay Fleeing Sudan Ethnic violence has killed thousands of Sudanese and sent many others into exile
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Fast Facts Sudan Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Photo Essay The Life Of Clooney Take a brief glimpse into the life and career of actor George Clooney.
George Clooney - who stepped into a more activist role last year as a creative force behind the films "Good Night and Good Luck" and "Syriana" - was the big draw of Sunday's rally. He said the policies of the United States and the United Nations are failing and citizens must raise their voices to demand change.
"This is in fact the first genocide of the 21st century, but there is hope: all of you," the actor said. "Every one of you speaking with one voice, every one of you."
Many of the demonstrators arrived by bus early in the morning. Nine-year-old twins Alexandra and Maya Silver, who came from Princeton, New Jersey with their mother Reza Green, were carrying a homemade banner that read, "If we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a broadcast interview, noted developments Sunday in Nigeria, where Sudan's government said it is ready to sign a peace agreement to end the bloodshed. Rebels, however, expressed reservations and pressed for an extension to talks with a deadline from the African Union looming.
"Obviously a peace agreement would be a very important step forward in getting this done," Rice said on ABC's "This Week."
"I don't know if they will extend, but there clearly has been some progress, and the United States has been one of the most active states in doing this," she said.
Sudan has indicated it might accept a U.N. force in Darfur to aid African Union troops if a peace treaty is signed, but Sudanese rebels have rejected the draft agreement.
Years of fighting between ethnic groups and Arab militias in western Sudan have left at least 180,000 people dead and about 2 million homeless. Amid the talks, the plight of 3 million refugees in Darfur has worsened. The U.N. World Food Program said Friday that it was cutting rations in half, citing a lack of funds.
President Bush met with Darfur advocates at the White House on Friday and lent his support to the weekend rallies. "For those of you who are going out to march for justice, you represent the best of our country," Mr. Bush said.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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