Sept. 28, 2006 — During a meeting Thursday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Delegate Donna Christensen and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) urged the Bush Administration to take immediate action to end the genocide in Darfur, according to a news release.
"The urgency of the intervention cannot be overstressed," said Delegate Christensen, who participated in the meeting. "People are dying and being displaced and abused. We cannot sit idly by."
Christensen was among the CBC members who got arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy this past summer in protest of the genocide.
"The caucus had a substantive discussion with Secretary Rice to let her know of our concerns regarding the ongoing genocide and human rights violations in Sudan," noted Congressman Mel Watt, who chairs the CBC. "We also warned her that the situation is rapidly approaching the magnitude of what occurred in Rwanda and that the U.S. and world pledged never to allow that to happen again."
The CBC discussed applying additional pressure to get U.N. forces into Sudan in order to bring peace and stability to the region. The CBC also met with Chinese and Arab League officials to urge them to use their influence with Sudan to help bring an end to the crisis.
