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NAACP Works to Stop the Genocide in Darfur

Since the conflict in Darfur began in 2003, as many as 400,000 Darfuris have been killed and up to 2.5 million Darfuris have been forced to leave their homes. These individuals now live in camps for internally displaced persons throughout Darfur, or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. In fact, the situation is currently so dire that there is no more room for new arrivals in most camps.

Time is running out for the people of Darfur. After four years of genocidal violence, rape, starvation, pillaging and other atrocities, millions of innocent Darfuri men, women, and children have been killed or are struggling to survive. These atrocities must be stopped and the NAACP is committed to help end the genocide. To this aim, the NAACP Board of Directors passed two resolutions on Darfur. The first condemns the atrocities inflicted on the people of Darfur and the second, supports divestment of public pension funds and other investments of companies doing business in Sudan. These resolutions are important statements regarding the organizations commitment to human rights and pave the way for NAACP action.

The NAACP also urged all Members of Congress to pass the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, S.2271. This legislation would protect the right of states to divest from companies that help fund the Sudanese government's actions in Darfur, would prohibit U.S. government contracts with such companies, and would allow states to ban contracts with them. Ending support for regimes like the Sudanese government is not a new approach for the NAACP. Divestment was a major contributor to bringing down the racist apartheid regime in South Africa in the 1980’s.

As part of our advocacy strategy, the NAACP engaged in the following:

Distributed a number of Action Alert and Issue Updates regarding Darfur and S.2271 via the NAACP National website and an email Action Alert list of approximately 130,000 activists;
Started a successful letter writing campaign at the NAACP 98th Annual National Convention in Detroit, Michigan really helped make a difference. Hundreds of letters were signed, each address to the signatory’s respective the Members of Congress, urging them to pass this vital piece of legislation;
Distributed Save Darfur action packets were distributed to NAACP Units across the nation. These action packets were distributed at State Conference Conventions that would be pivotal to the passage of the legislation such as Alabama, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, New York and Washington State;
The NAACP worked in coalition with Save Darfur Coalition’s Voices from Darfur project to bring Darfuri speakers to the Alabama, Illinois and Texas NAACP State Conference conventions in October, 2007 to show first hand accounts of the atrocities;
The NAACP worked with the Save Darfur Coalition’s Dream for Darfur project to help organize the Olympic Torch Run culmination event on December 10, 2007 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of demonstrators turned out for the event and were inspired to action by the powerful words of speakers such as, Actress Mia Farrow, Olympic Medalist Joey Cheek, Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau Director, Darfuri Refugees, and others.

The NAACP’s hard work to enact S.2271 has paid off, as the bill passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. At this writing, the legislation is on its way to President Bush for his signature. This critical legislation puts us one step forward to ending the genocide in Darfur. However, more needs to be done to stem the tide of violence in Darfur. Please contact the NAACP International Affairs Department in the Washington Bureau to find out how you can help.

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NAACP Works to Stop the Genocide in Darfur