Congressman McGovern delivered the following remarks this morning while demonstrating against the Sudanese government's refusal to allow international aid organizations back into Darfur to ease the escalating humanitarian crisis there. After a brief series of speeches in front of the Sudanese Embassy, Congressman McGovern and four other members of Congress were arrested in an effort to raise awareness and force action in Darfur.
Three years ago, I stood on these steps and called for an end to the genocide in Darfur.
I do not want to be here in 2012 calling on the Sudanese government to stop the killing.
Once again, we have a major humanitarian crisis in Darfur - this time brought on by President Bashir's expulsion of key humanitarian workers - groups like Oxfam and Save the Children - who provide the food, water and medicine that keep people alive.
Last week, the UN said Bashir's action puts in danger the very survival of over one million people.
We need to care. We need to act. Every life is of equal value.
Who are we as a people if we let the children of Darfur die because President Bashir willfully denies them the most basic right to survive?
And every single day of inaction more people die. They die from attacks by the Janjaweed, Bashir's army and the rebels; and they die from hunger and disease.
President Bashir has a choice - He can choose to let the humanitarian groups return and let them carry out their work unimpeded; he can choose to end the violence and the killing; and he can choose serious negotiations for a just and lasting peace.
Or he can continue to commit crimes against humanity - crimes with which he is already charged - and charges that will one day catch up with him and bring him down.
In his first 100 days, President Obama has said many of the right things on Darfur; he has appointed a special envoy; and he has begun a review of US policy.
But we don't need to reinvent the wheel on Darfur.
What we need from President Obama is the decision to devote his time and personal political capital to save lives, end the killing, and help broker a just and lasting peace.
Will he pick up the phone and directly engage Sudan's neighbors, African leaders, and the world community and stop this?
Will he provide the transport helicopters so desperately needed by the AU-UN peacekeeping force to protect the Darfur people?
Will he tighten the arms embargo around Khartoum?
Will he hold Bashir accountable for the safety and well-being of the people of Darfur?
I know our President cares deeply about the tragedy in Darfur. He has spoken eloquently and passionately on this crisis.
But there is no more time.
Each day, another child dies in Darfur.
The time to act is now.
