lxxxii
2.7.08
published on 09/21/06
Students take part in Darfur rally
Christine Vines 
Guest Writer
Marching along Fifth Avenue and congregating in Central Park, tens of thousands of people rallied in New York City on Sunday, Sept. 17 to protest the genocide in Sudan. Demonstrations occurred throughout the world for the Voices to Stop Genocide campaign, which were scheduled to coincide with the opening of the 61st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Approximately 30 Vassar students representing Save Darfur and Hunger Action gathered in New York.
Organizers called the event “a festival of action” that they hoped would increase awareness of the genocide and spur the immediate action of UN peacekeeping forces, which have yet to intervene in the crisis. The rally featured speakers from anti-genocide coalitions, religious councils and the U.S. government, as well as numerous musical guests.
Vassar students felt invigorated by the protest. “Even to be one person at a rally, you can feel like you’re making a difference—even if it’s small,” said Rita Schlesinger ’08.
Polly Cancro ’08 agreed, saying that she wanted to make a stand. “It’s not about being concerned and having a passive voice, but being pro-active”
Thirteen Darfurians gave personal accounts of the situation in Sudan. “I have seen fear in the eyes of orphans, begging for rescue,” one speaker explained. “I am inviting human beings, including George Bush, to put politics aside. If it were not for the politics, people would have been in Darfur long ago.”
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke about the need for an urgent international response to the atrocities at the protest. “This will not happen by accident, the world must act now,” said Albright. “We need to get the UN in there.”
The Save Darfur Coalition estimated that the turnout this year was 30,000. Most of the 500 college and high school STAND chapters were in attendance.
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Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
