New Yorkers Take to the Streets
Hundreds of people from all over the New York and neighboring states gathered for the "Break the Chain: Divest NY" rally near the United Nations Saturday, March 10th. Participants locked hands, forming a human chain between the Sudanese and Chinese Missions to expose and protest Chinese Involvement in the Darfur Genocide. The event also meant to encourage New York City and New York State to divest pension fund money from companies operating in Sudan.
Participants began at Hammersjkold park, across the street from the Sudanese Mission, and marched down 2nd Avenue to a rally at St. Vartan's park across the street from the Chinese Mission to the U.N..
US Dollars Supporting Genocide
While the US companies are prohibited from doing business with the Sudanese government, a loop-hole still allows US investors to pour billions of dollars into foreign companies doing business there. Germany’s Siemens, France’s Alcatel, Switzerland’s ABB Ltd., and China’s PetroChina and Sinopec are helping to sustain the genocidal government by means of massive capital and commercial investments.
Many experts studying the situation argue that because of Khartoum’s overwhelming external debt, these investments provide a financial lifeline supplementing Sudan's oil wealth, which is devoted to military purchases and to genocide as a domestic security policy.
Economic Pressure for Peace
Activists are applying economic pressure on the Sudanese Government by working to close that loop-hole. State legislatures in New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Maine, and California have all approved divestment plans; and non-binding divestment resolutions have passed in Ohio, Connecticut and Vermont.
New York State Assembly member Karim Camara (District 43 in Brooklyn) attended the Saturday afternoon rally, stating that hundreds of millions of the nearly 150 billion dollar New York State pension fund is tied to companies supporting the Janjaweed. Camara joined New York City Councilmember Eric Gioia, giving eloquent speeches on the gravity of the Darfur situation and what's become a century long fight to end genocide that began in response to the Armenian Massacre and sadly continues through today.
While New Yorkers can't claim to have led this effort, they aren't far behind. According to the Sudan Divestment Task Force's February State of Sudan Divestment Report, New York State Assemblymembers Darryl C. Towns (D-54) and James F. Brennan (D-44) have agreed to introduce targeted Sudan divestment legislation in the New York State Assembly; and Senators Joseph E. Robach (R-56) and John L. Sampson (D-19) will introduce companion legislation in the State Senate. In New York City, Councilmembers Eric Gioia and David Yassky have introduced a non-binding targeted divestment resolution before the New York City Council.
Other speakers included Rabbi Or Rose, Reverend Podres Spencer, Former Sudanese Slave and Human Rights Activist Simon Deng, Quest Soliman and Rachel Katzman (5th Graders at the Children's Workshop School in Manhattans East Village), Maggie Tiernan, Erin Mazursky, Leila Alciere, and some passionate student organizers (whose names I didn't catch).
The event was organized by Genocide Intervention Network and STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition; and sponsored by the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Americans Against the Darfur Genocide, Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, New York Coalition to Save Darfur, Sudan Divestment Taskforce, Get Fidelity Out of Sudan.
See more pics of the event here.
