Res. No. 513
Resolution commending Congressman Charles B. Rangel for his act of civil disobedience on July 13, 2004 at the Sudan Embassy in Washington, D.C. while trying to call attention to the urgency of United States support for a United Nations multi-national peace-keeping force and humanitarian relief effort for as many as one million Sudanese people of Darfur who are in danger of genocide and starvation by Sudanese government-backed militias
By Council Members Foster, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, James, Koppell, Perkins, Reed, Sanders, Seabrook and Jackson
Whereas, Recent reports have indicated that attacks by Sudanese government-backed militias in the western region of Darfur has left approximately 30,000 people dead, over a million more displaced and another million facing genocide and starvation; and
Whereas, Andrew Natsios, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, stated on June 3, 2004, that the grave situation in Darfur is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today and that even under the best-case scenario and optimal conditions as many as 320,000 people could die; and
Whereas, On July 13, 2004, Congressman Charles B. Rangel was arrested for his act of civil disobedience at the Sudan Embassy in Washington, D.C. during his efforts to call attention to the urgency of United States support for a United Nations multi-national peace-keeping force and humanitarian relief effort for the people of Darfur; and
Whereas, Congressman Rangel further outlined his position in a July 15, 2004 article appearing in The New York Amsterdam News, by stating that “the people being slaughtered in Darfur are Muslims of Black African descent who have traditionally been marginalized by the Sudanese government;” and
Whereas, Congressman Rangel further stated that the “international community, led by the United States, must take immediate action to stop the genocide in Darfur and save the lives of the 700,000 people still clinging to hope;” and
Whereas, According to Congressman Rangel, the international community should provide the $350 million needed by the United Nations to finance shipments of food and medicine to Darfur and neighboring Chad, where most of the one million refugees have gone; and
Whereas, Congressman Rangel also noted that the war in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power has already cost almost $200 billion and stated that “if overthrowing Saddam was worth $200 billion, surely saving a million lives in Darfur is worth a larger commitment than we’ve made so far;” now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York commends Congressman Charles B. Rangel for his act of civil disobedience on July 13, 2004 at the Sudan Embassy in Washington, D.C. while trying to call attention to the urgency of United States support for a United Nations multi-national peace-keeping force and humanitarian relief effort for as many as one million Sudanese people of Darfur who are in danger of genocide and starvation by Sudanese government-backed militias.
LS#1460
RA
8/6/2004
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