Jewish community prominent at Portland Save Darfur Rally

By Toshio Suzuki

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"We cannot call ourselves religious or worthy devotees of some humanitarian organization without doing something individually and collectively to end this ongoing tragedy."
Those were the words of Rabbi Emanuel Rose of Temple Beth Israel April 30 at the Save Darfur Rally in downtown Portland where hundreds came together at Pioneer Courthouse Square to call for an end to the genocide in the western Sudan region.
At the end of his remarks, Rose asked all present to close their eyes
and "try and envision what is happening in Darfur."
Activists and sunbathers of all ages, many wearing large green stickers that read "Not on our watch," tried to imagine an existence of constant hunger and murder.

The rally in Portland coincided with more than a dozen others across the country that attracted many thousands in an effort to urge domestic and international action against what has been labeled by the U.S. government as a genocide.
Since 2003, about 200,000 lives have been lost and about 2 million others are homeless and vulnerable in western Sudan, according to the Associated Press. The refugees are mainly vulnerable to the ruthless government-sponsored militias known as the Janjaweed that are terrorizing the region and threatening any hope for long-term stability.
On the ground, civilians are being attacked and raped. From the air they suffer bombings. They are left with no resources or safe haven.
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., speaking briefly to the crowd, implored his own country to "flex its muscle" for humanitarian aid.
Blumenauer praised the work of local synagogues and churches, making note of their unity in the face of the horrors in Darfur.
"There is no ideological divide (on the issue), no red-state/blue-state," he said. "It brings everyone together."
Besides motivational stickers, organizers had several stations set up so participants could directly solicit help from President Bush by filling out a postcard with a brief note and photograph of a child on it.
Pressuring the United States, said these protesters, could lead to additional pressure on NATO, the U.N., the African Union and finally the Sudanese government.
Less than a week after the rallies, the Sudanese government and the main rebel faction in Darfur signed a U.S. brokered peace agreement, although violence persisted.
There was a strong Jewish presence at the rally, evident from numerous kippah-clad head, as well a more overt statement, like that by a contingent from Kol Shalom. Scott Lake and Diane Koosed held posters with a Kol Shalom logo and the message: "Stop the Genocide." Lake said the sign had been around, having been used previously to protest the Iraq war and animal cruelty.
All who attended or passed by the several-hours-long rally heard a variety of messages ranging from the testimony of a Holocaust survivor or to the African dance group called Peace.
More information, including the latest news articles and history on the conflict, is available at www.savedarfur.org.