300-Mile Sudan Freedom Walk Ends with a Boost
The 300-mile Sudan Freedom walkers arrived Wednesday at their final destination where they were met with senators, human rights activists and prayers from across the nation.
The 300-mile Sudan Freedom walkers arrived Wednesday at their final destination where they were met with senators, human rights activists and prayers from across the nation.
From the United Nations building in New York to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the awareness-raising and action-stirring walk led by former Sudanese slave Simon Deng was completed in 21 days.
"I walked to be the voice of those who have no voice," Deng said at a rally, speaking for the hundreds of thousands suffering in modern day slavery and human rights abuses in Sudan.
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Voices were heard as the U.S. House of Representatives approved the much-awaited Darfur Peace and Accountability Act Wednesday, authorizing sanctions against those responsible for "genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity" in the Darfur region.
Just before the legislation was approved by a 416-3 vote, Isaac Rowlett, president of STAND at New York University, said the results of the measure would be a "major boost to the movement." Rowlett joined Deng at the start of the walk in New York City and traveled on the long stretch for the full journey.
"The walk went incredibly well," he said from the rally site as sounds of cheers nearly drowned him out. “We had swelling numbers of people come out to provide us with places to stay, good food, and with warmth and love.”
"It's been a definite success."
As hundreds of people marked the end of the Sudan Freedom Walk, churches from across the nation are continuing their prayers and actions for the Darfurians. The Save Darfur Coalition kicked off the Week of Prayer and Action for Darfur this past Sunday, gathering the participation of churches from various faith traditions in 32 states.
Churches were boosted by an encouraging letter from President George Bush Saturday, expressing his commitment to strengthen the Africa Union Mission and seek an end to the conflict in Darfur.
"The United States of America is committed to supporting efforts for stability and lasting peace for people of Darfur," he stated.
