Seeds Will Grow

Protesters demonstrated in support of Sudan during the “Stand up for Sudan” rally in Victoria Park, Ontario on Nov. 9. (Instagram/For Sudanese Liberation)

Cross-posting this call to action from No Business With Genocide:

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This week, we mark the fourth year of the war in Sudan. In Washington, DC, we at No Business With Genocide are teaming up our friends at Emgage for a week of walking the halls of Congress and securing more co-sponsors for key bills.

Sudan is in the grip of a genocide. Powerful governments and corporations are working overtime to make sure you don’t notice. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have occupied El Fasher in Darfur, blocking food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Starvation is being used as a weapon. Civilians are paying the price. The RSF’s campaign of violence is not happening in isolation. The United Arab Emirates is widely recognized as the RSF’s principal external backer.

Congress has the power to act. But they will only act if we demand that our Members of Congress step up.

Two critical bills — S.935, introduced by Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), and H.R.2059, introduced by Sarah Jacobs (D, California) — would halt U.S. weapons sales to the UAE until the President certifies that the UAE is no longer providing material support to the RSF.

This is a simple, concrete step: No more weapons transfers until support for atrocities stops.

But these bills will not move without public pressure.

Will you take one minute to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor S.935 or H.R.2059?

Click here to tell your Members of Congress to support and co-sponsor S.935 or H.R.2059 today!

Please follow up your message with emails and phone calls to the staff of your U.S. Members of Congress.

Just follow the steps below to call and email your U.S. Members of Congress. Sometimes just one call or direct email from you can make the difference.

Follow up #1: email the staffers of your U.S. Members of Congress

• Click here to enter your zip code and find your House Member
• Just click here to find the name, phone number, and email of the staffers to your U.S. senators and representative.

If your Members of Congress are already a co-sponsor of the bills, write and thank them. (We don’t thank them often enough.)

• Click here for the current list of co-sponsors of S.935
• Click here for the current list of co-sponsors of H.R.2059

In your email, we suggest you use a succinct and direct subject line such as: “Co-sponsor bills to help end war in Sudan”

Start your message with a mention of where you live in the state or district. Feel free to include a personal note on why you care about Sudan in particular. Please use or adapt the following text in your email. Please blind copy (bcc) us on your email at info@nobusinesswithgenocide.org.

I am writing today to ask you to support and co-sponsor H.R.2059 or S.935 to help end the civil war in Sudan.

Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflicts between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting, which began in April 2023, has resulted in widespread displacement, food insecurity, and human rights violations.

There is growing evidence that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed atrocities, including those that amount to genocide, against the Masalit people and other non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been the principal sponsor of the RSF. A group of Members of Congress have introduced H.R.2059 or S.935 to prohibit the President from selling or authorizing a license for the export of covered defense articles under the Arms Export Control Act to the United Arab Emirates until the President certifies to Congress that the UAE is no longer providing materiel support to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

Please write and tell me if you have co-sponsored H.R.2059 or S.935 to help end the civil war in Sudan.

Follow Up #2: make a phone call

• Click here to enter your zip code and find your House Member
• Just click here to find the name, phone number, and email of the staffers to your U.S. senators and representative.

If your Members of Congress are already a co-sponsor of the resolutions, write and thank them. (We don’t thank them often enough.)

• Click here for the current list of co-sponsors of S.935
• Click here for the current list of co-sponsors of H.R.2059
• When you reach their office, ask to be connected directly to the staffer, either in person on their voicemail.

• Simply tell the staffer – in person or on their voicemail – you want them to co-sponsor S.935 (Senate) or H.R.2059 (House) to help end the civil war in Sudan.
• Leave your name, number, and city of residence to indicate that you live in the state.
• Email us at info@nobusinesswithgenocide.org and tell us how your calls went.

Just one email or phone call from a constituent can make a difference.  So email and call your U.S. senators and representative every few days until they cosponsor these important resolutions on Sudan.

Thank you for taking action and standing with the people of Sudan. Your voice truly makes a difference.

With solidarity,

Alyson Chadwick, Strategist and Simon Billenness, Executive Director, No Business With Genocide

For the team at No Business With Genocide: Simon Billenness, Alyson Chadwick, Julie Millsap, Sasha LaPonsa, Maris Evans, and Nora Nyi Myint

To build No Business With Genocide, the movement to end genocide and other mass atrocities, we need your support. Please click here to make a generous gift to end genocide worldwide.

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