Washington, DC — Five members of the United States Congress were among a group of people arrested Monday in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC during a protest against the violence in Darfur.
The representatives – Donna Edwards (Democrat-Maryland), Keith Ellison (Democrat-Minnesota), John Lewis (Democrat-Georgia), Jim McGovern (Democrat-Massachusetts) and Lynn Woolsey (Democrat-California) – were arrested for crossing a police line, a misdemeanor. They were processed at a Washington, DC police station and released Monday afternoon.
Three other Darfur activists were also arrested – Jerry Fowler of the Save Darfur Coalition, John Prendergast of the ENOUGH Project and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Lewis, a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States, released a statement. "We cannot stand by, watch and wait... I don't understand how the world can stand by and watch the slaughter of innocent victims in Darfur," he said.
McGovern and Lewis were arrested during a similar protest in 2006. "I do not want to be here in 2012 calling on the Sudanese government to stop the killing," McGovern said, alluding to his earlier arrest.
The arrests were planned as part of a protest against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's decision to expel aid groups from Darfur last month. Aid agencies and analysts worry that the decision will leave millions vulnerable.
An estimated 300,000 people have died in Darfur since violence erupted in 2002. Another 2.5 million have been made homeless.
After his release from prison, Prendergast said in a statement, "We hope our message is heard in the White House in Washington and at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum."
Fowler called for President Obama to "demonstrate that Sudan is a strategic priority for the United States by committing to build a multilateral coalition for peace."
The Embassy of Sudan called the arrests a "publicity stunt." In a statement, the embassy added that the Sudanese government is working hard to meet the needs of Darfuris.
About 50 people joined the members of Congress and activist leaders in front of the embassy.
