Five US lawmakers arrested in protest at Sudan embassy

April 27, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Five US Congress members, including civil rights pioneer John Lewis, were arrested and then released Monday during a protest at the Embassy of Sudan in Washington, along with leading American Darfur activists.

The high-profile protesters crossed onto property of the embassy, were warned to step off by US Secret Service, then arrested on a misdemeanour charge after many warnings, and later forced to pay a small fine before being released.

Rep. John Lewis, from the state of Georgia, was among those arrested, along with four other lawmakers, who were Donna Edwards of Maryland, James McGovern of Massachusetts, Lynn Woolsey of California and the first Muslim elected to Congress, Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

“Three years ago, I stood here in front of this embassy with my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus demanding an end to this genocide. I don’t understand it. How can a government meant to serve the people turn a blind eye to human suffering?” said Lewis before his arrest, according to a statement from his office.

Lewis was part of the leadership of the US civil rights movement for African-Americans. During that period of struggle, he was arrested more than 40 times for acts of civil disobedience. From 1963 to 1966 he led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a movement affiliated with the leader of the US civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Three activists arrested during the protest were Jerry Fowler, president of Save Darfur Now; John Prendergast, a co-founder of the Enough Project; and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

“We need to shake up the status quo, and that’s why we’re getting arrested today,” said Prendergast at the police barricade, according to the activist group’s website.

The protest comes amid signs that the US State Department is seeking to establish firmer ties with the Government of Sudan in an effort at rapprochement.

(ST)