September 15, 2006

NEW YORK – Actor George Clooney and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel appeared (video link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciOFVicaYmM) before the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to make an impassioned plea for immediate UN intervention in Sudan's Darfur region.

This morning, Mr. Clooney and Mr. Wiesel appeared on The Today Show (video link at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/) where they discussed the situation in Darfur and the "Save Darfur Now: Voices to Stop Genocide" rally in New York City this Sunday.

On Sunday, September 17, thousands of people will come together from 2-5 p.m. for the "SAVE DARFUR NOW: Voices to Stop Genocide" on the East Meadow of Central Park.

The rally marks the culmination of ten days of worldwide action calling on the United Nations to dispatch an international peacekeeping force to stop the violence in Darfur. Already a estimated 400,000 civilians have dies, more than two million have been brutally driven from their homes, and 3.5 million risk starvation.

Local congregations and their leaders have been invited to take the following steps:

1. Coordinate a delegation from your congregation to attend the rally on September 17. For information on the rally, please visit http://www.savedarfur.org/now/ or contact Aja Kweliona at (646) 624-5055.

2. Participate in "10 Days of Prayer and Action for Darfur," September 7 – 17. For more information on how to take part, please download the Faith Action Packet available at http://www.savedarfur.org/faith/.

3. Educate your congregation about the crisis in Darfur and include information in any bulletins or newsletters.

The Save Darfur Coalition will provide you with educational materials and any information you need. Please contact Aja Kweliona at aja@savedarfur.org or (646) 624-5055.

Endorsements for the Rally have come from the City's religious leaders, including: Imam Shamsi Ali, Islamic Cultural Center of NY, Jamaica Museum Center; Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, President, Council of Churches of the City of New York; Dr. John E. Hiemstra, Executive Director, Council of Churches of the City of New York; Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr., Executive Director, Queens Federation of Churches; Ruth Messinger, President, American Jewish World Service; and David Rubenstein, Coordinator, Save Darfur Coalition.

Participants are asked to wear a blue hat to symbolize the need for UN peacekeepers and to enter from 5th Avenue at 90th Street, follow East Drive uptown to East Meadow. No alcoholic beverages, glass, bottles, collers, pets, bicycles, rollerblades, folding chairs, beach umbrellas, large bags or large purses will be allowed on site.

Save Darfur Now