Wow. The CBC is outraged over what's going on in Darfur. And look who's on the front lines!
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) was arrested yesterday in front of the Sudanese Embassy as he took part in a demonstration calling for an end to what Rangel and members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) say is genocide in the country’s Darfur region.
Rangel marched with former Del. Walter Fauntroy (D-D.C.) and other protesters in front of the embassy before he walked up the embassy steps, crossed his arms, and stood in front of the embassy doors, facing the crowd.
“I am not doing this for the people of Sudan,†Rangel said before officers from the U.S. Secret Service uniformed division handcuffed him and led him to a police van. “I am doing this for myself, to be able to say to my children and grandchildren, if they ever ask, ‘What were you doing when this tragedy was happening?’â€
He added, “There should be such outrage about what is happening†in Sudan
There should have been a lot more outrage a long time ago. It's not like the slavery and genocide in Sudan have been a secret. They could have read about it in the Middle East Quarterly back in 1998, or the following year, or maybe here. They could have read about it any time over the past several years in great detail at the CSI website. But, apparently, they didn't.
Better late than never, I guess. Hey, some celebrities are finally involved, too.
Former Rep. Robert Edgar (D-Pa.), the president of the National Council of Churches, is planning to be arrested today in front of the embassy, campaign organizers said.
Rangel was the third person arrested overall as part of the protest. There have been discussions with actors Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte, and other members of the CBC also plan to participate, campaign spokeswoman Joia Nuri said.
Maybe they've been reading Rantburg's comments (#3).
