On March 28, 2010, at Responsible for Equality And Liberty’s (R.E.A.L.) public awareness event on human rights at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Damanga Executive Director Mohamed Yahya spoke on the pressing issues of Darfur and Sudan. Mohamed Yahya passionately conveyed to the public the continuing suffering of the people in Darfur and Sudan. He addressed the continuing genocide of the Darfuri people, and their suffering and poverty, including the attacks by the Janjaweed and the refusal of the Omar Al-Bashir government to respect the Darfuri people’s human rights.
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks at Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial on Darfur
While crowds around the Lincoln Memorial stopped to listen, Mohamed Yahya told them of the continuing need for Americans to get involved in helping the Darfuri people, and he urged them to call for the Obama administration to take action on Darfur. He reminded the public of pledges made by members of the administration during the electoral campaign, and then the failure to take aggressive action to bring justice to the Darfuri people today. He reminded the public of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictments against Sudan president Omar Al-Bashir. Moreover, Mr. Yahya pointed out, as he did in his recent article “A Deal with a Devil,” that there can be no peace in Sudan without justice and human rights for Darfur.
As volunteers passed out fliers on Damanga and the Darfur genocide, Mohamed Yahya asked the public to consider the importance of “saving just one human life,” and how taking such personal responsibility would provide an indelible sense of accomplishment, purpose, and meaning in our lives as individuals. “Then imagine,” Mohamed Yahya added, “how much more would it mean to help save a million or more lives?” Over 400,000 have been killed in Darfur, countless women have been raped and abused in Darfur, and there are an estimated 2.6 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) at risk. Despite an abundance of oil and other natural resources controlled by the Omar Al-Bashir government, the vast majority of Sudan’s people live in poverty, and many children die daily from malnutrition and poverty.
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks of Need to Save Lives from Genocide in Darfur
Members of the public were moved to show their support and joined Mohamed Yahya on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps holding signs calling for justice and human rights in Darfur.
Washington DC: Public Passerby Demonstrate Solidarity for Darfur Justice and Human Rights
Washington DC: American Young Women Stand in Support of Justice and Human Rights for Darfur
Mohamed Yahya pointed out the solidarity of people of all races and religions opposing the genocide and the human rights abuses in Darfur, standing with Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s Jeffrey Imm.
Mohamed Yahya and Jeffrey Imm Grasp Hands in Solidarity Together on Lincoln Memorial Calling for Justice and Human Rights in Darfur
R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm then concluded the public awareness event with an inter-faith prayer and moment of reflection from people of all beliefs and conscience on behalf of the Darfuri people. He invited members of the public to join them on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps to pray for peace, justice, and human rights for the people of Darfur and Sudan.
The March 28, 2010 Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) public awareness event was held on the Washington DC Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps as R.E.A.L.’s annual remembrance of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, and who R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm praised as a hero for human rights everywhere who gave his life for all of us. As Easter Sunday falls on April 4 this year, R.E.A.L. was holding this event on March 28.
The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps are where Dr. King gave his inspirational message to America “I Have A Dream.”
The R.E.A.L. message at the March 28 Lincoln Memorial event was that while Dr. King had a dream, we have a responsibility to human rights for our fellow human beings. Jeffrey Imm stated “human rights are our rights, and human rights are our responsibility. This responsibility includes the responsibility to speak out, to not stay silent, and to demand action by our government and international bodies on the continuing oppression, continuing genocide, and continuing injustice in Darfur. Be responsible. Be responsible for equality and liberty.”