Top Christian Leaders Join 'Save Darfur' Rally
WASHINGTON – Christian speakers were among the religious leaders, human rights activists, politicians, athletes and actors that convened to rally for greater U.S. involvement in the Darfur conflict on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators wearing T-shirts and waving signs such as “Never Again – Stop the Genocide,” “Don’t allow Sudan’s sin to become a shame on the World!” and “No Excuses!” filled the National Mall demanding an end to what the United Nation calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
Prominent Christian leaders were among politicians, a Nobel Prize winner, an Academy Award Winner, and heads of non-government organizations invited to speak at the "Save Darfur" rally.
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The Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, prayed for the situation in Darfur during his speech.
“We pray your blessings, your comforting will fall upon the enslaved, the victims on this day. They are there but we are here and when they are persecuted, we are persecuted,” prayed Cizik. “When they are hungry, we are hungry. Grant us the knowledge to understand that, Heavenly Father.
“We pray as well for the political leaders of the world, that their conscience would be stricken with the lost and suffering and that they would be moved to action. We are people of conscience and together we can stop the genocide. May it be so. Amen,” concluded the NAE representative.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., also called for action, encouraging the United States and other countries to make a stronger commitment to saving Darfur.
“Our nation has to get onboard,” declared McCarrick. “Every nation has to get onboard. Now is the time. Now is the time to put our money where our mouth is. Now is the time!”
With at least 180,000 people dead and some 2 million homeless, according to The Associated Press, the ongoing violence between the government militias and ethnic minority rebels in the western Darfur region is one of the most serious in the world today.
“This issue that we face today is not only an issue for Americans but for every citizen of the world,” the Rev. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the World Evangelical Alliance, said on Sunday.
“The Scriptures make it very clear that we must stand with those who are voiceless and powerless. Today we stand with the Darfur people and speak out loudly against the outrageous atrocities they are being subjected,” Tunnicliffe said.
Other Christian leaders that spoke at the Save Darfur rally included Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission; the Rev. Walter Fauntroy of New Bethel Baptist Church of Washington, D.C.; the Rev. John L. McCullough, executive director and CEO of Church World Service; Tony Kireopoulos of the National Council of Churches; and the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.
