Sudan Freedom Walkers Take First Steps of 300-Mile Trip
Students, human rights activists and the man behind the Sudan freedom movement, Simon Deng, took their first step Wednesday.
NEW YORK - Months of preparation came down to the final hours of the much-talked-about 300-mile walk as students, human rights activists and the man behind the Sudan freedom movement, Simon Deng, took their first step Wednesday.
"Why walking?" asked Deng, a former Sudanese slave, during the kick-off press conference in front of the United Nations building at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Rather than taking the long journey by car or plane, Deng wanted to make a stand amid the years of talking that have resulted in little action against the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
"It's not a matter of talking. Let's walk the walk," he said just before he and a crowd of people began their journey in the cold wind.
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The "historical moment," as Deng described it, is the start of the Sudan Freedom Walk, sponsored by the Sudan Campaign. Four months in the making, the walk is taking place to raise awareness of the crimes, genocide, and modern day slavery ravaging Sudan and to call for U.S. government action to abolish slavery and end genocide in Darfur.
Stepping off from New York City, Deng is heading to Washington, D.C., where President Bush acknowledged and told the world that the humanitarian atrocities occurring in Darfur is genocide.
"We're not going to sit down and do nothing," said Deng. Instead, he and a group of locals are walking to tell the world to take action.
On Wednesday, the Sudan Freedom Walk advanced its first 20 miles across the George Washington Bridge to Fort Lee, New Jersey. At each of their city stops, the walk participants will be joined by locals and met with support, including food, water and a place to rest their long-journeying feet.
"I'm actually looking forward to it," said Chelsy Usher, 24, who will be walking the entire 300 miles to the capital. More than a "walk in the park," Usher said she hopes "it's a challenge."
"If one person learns [of the crisis], like myself, then it's worth it," she added.
"I love Simon's heart," said Pastor Carlos Ortiz of Elim Christian Assembly, which had hosted Deng earlier this month. Speaking of the power found in the small things, Ortiz commented on the walk as "a major sacrifice."
Ortiz only recently learned of the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where genocide and modern day slavery continue to exist, and has begun to take action. Deng applauded the proactive involvement of the evangelicals in the issue, saying he was "happy" to see Christians become more active to save the hundreds of thousands of people suffering in Sudan.
Deng was captured at the age of nine and sold to an Arab family in Northern Sudan where he was enslaved for three and a half years until he escaped.
Former NBA player Manute Bol joined Deng at the New York City rally along with another former slave from Sudan, Karlo Okoy, who sang, "I have been set free within my Lord Jesus."
Turning their backs on the U.N. building which has failed to do anything to resolve the Sudan crisis, as Deng stressed, the crowd of supporters launched their 21-day walk as Deng shouted, "Come and walk with me."
