Congressman Rangel to be arrested at the Sudanese Embassy

[gottaB]

At 12 noon on Tuesday, July 13, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, (D-N.Y.) will be among the protesters arrested at the Sudanese Embassy, 2210 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C.

Congressman Rangel, along with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), are calling for an end to the genocide in Sudan. The CBC is demanding sanctions against the government of Sudan. Many of the protesters are planning to get arrested. In addition to being arrested, radio talk show host and civil rights leader, Joe Madison, will launch a hunger strike. Madison demands an immediate end to the Sudanese government's obstruction of humanitarian aid to victims of the Sudanese genocide. Madison says if trucks filled with food and medicines are not allowed through to the victims before rainy season begins hundreds of thousands of people could die needlessly.

Sudan Campaign organizers pledge to continue demonstrations until the Sudanese government stops the genocide and returns over one million displaced civilians to their homes. Demonstrations are also planned in Boston, New York City, San Antonio, San Diego, and Toronto. On Wednesday, July 14 the Hon. Robert Edgar, former Member of Congress and current President of the National Council of Churches will be arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy at noon.

The Sudan Campaign calls on the Security Council of the United Nations to adopt Chapter 7 sanctions on Sudan, to suspend the membership of the government for Sudan on the U. N. Human Rights Commission, and to enable slave and other victims of the Sudanese government's declared jihad against Black Africans to return to their homes.

Rangel to be arrested at the Sudanese Embassy....

[Myra]

1. Charlie Rangel is THE best

Best best best.
I think he really cares about people.

[gottaB]

2. Abosolutely

Makes me wish I lived in the 15th District.

[OnTheUpandDown]

37. Should we send our young soldiers to die for Rangel's war?

Is he calling for a just war? Will America go for it? How many Dems support this call for troops?

[izzie]

3. Sometimes I feel the poor man is beating a dead horse but-----

I never figured King would have so much good results and that was sure long over due.Would be nice if some of these rich congress men who seem to have more money that God would not also stand up for the less well off in the world. Be sides Kennedy their is hardly one.Vermont, seems to produce these people also.We need more Wellstones in this country.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

4. Personally, I don't disagree....

But for the sake of argument, doesn't PLANNING to commit a crime (ie to get arrested) constitute another crime? And what happens congressmen convicted of crimes?

Could he be kicked out for being guilty of conspiracy to commit a crime?

[Robbien]

5. He is planning to bring attention to the Sudan by attending a protest

Attending a protest is supposed to still be a constitutional right. However in this BushCo world, constitutional rights no longer count where one can be led off in handcuffs for wearing anti-Bush teeshirts.

[Laughing Mirror]

6. What I don't understand is, what is the crime?

It doesn't say what he plans on getting arrested for. Disorderly conduct? Protesting in front of an embassy? What sort of crime is Rep Rangel supposed to commit?

[Sporadicus]

7. Conspiracy

requires the collusion of two or more people. This constitutes merely forethought.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

11. "Many of the protesters are planning to get arrested."...

That is what was said in the article. Sounds like the collusion of two or more people to me...

[Trajan]

14. Think Ghandi and MLK ....

Of COURSE they pre-planned thier non-violent acts of civil disobedience ... but does that fact detract one iota from their causes ?? ....

I dont think so .... Bully for Rangel and the CBC ....

[gottaB]

8. Is there a provision in PATRIOT USA to criminalize linking to

Civil Disobedience?

Let's find out!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. Guess Henry David Thoreau wasted all that ink for nothing

[InkAddict]

34. HDT was a fraud!

I lost interest in his messages when I learned that every day his Mommy brought him food, specifically blueberry muffins...So much for self-sufficiency at Walden Pond.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. It's against the law to protest?

When did peaceful protest become a crime in the US? Maybe the CBC is telling us something about the administration and rule of law when they publicly state they are prepared to be arrested for protesting. Hmmmm?

[gottaB]

10. probably they'll commit some misdemeanor like blocking the entrance

I'm certain Rangel doesn't intend to commit a felony.

[Robbien]

12. These people have been protesting at the embassy for three weeks

And they get little or no media, even when there are arrests. It is as if the media has been told not to report about these daily protests. Google has almost nothing on it.

Good for Rangel in forcing the issue.

[gottaB]

13. just one picture on Yahoo!

Protesters march in front of the Sudanese Embassy

[theHandpuppet]

15. I would encourage everyone....

... to visit the site for Amnesty International at http://www.amnesty.org/ for more information on the Sudanese crisis.

[Bandit]

16. But everyone knows the GOP and Bush* Cabal is opposed to "Nation Building"

D'oh Iraq :shrug: What a Flip-Flop

[CharlesGroce]

18. Hats off to the Congressional Black Caucus

I think the journalist screwed up the headline a little, I mean, how many members are there of the Congressional Black Caucus? And Rangel makes the headline?

Just wanted to point that out, I'm very happy to hear someone in Congress is paying attention to what's happening in Darfur.

[JNelson6563]

19. Rock on Rangel!

Give 'em hell!

:toast:

[gottaB]

20. Just covered on Air America, Unfiltered

Joe Madison was interviewed

[guajira]

21. Rangel is Wonderful!!!

He is one Dem who has the guts to go on Faux News and ream them a new one!!

One time he appeared on H&C and stated that we (U.S.) were bombing women and children in Iraq. The next day that bimbo E.D. was telling everyone that Rangel said we were TARGETING women and children in Iraq.

I was wishing Rangel would sue them for distorting his statements, but apparently nothing came of it, and of course Faux never apologized!

[rawstory]

22. LINK?

thanks (besides the press release, was he actually arrested?)

[gottaB]

26. UPI Breaking (Sorry Wash Times has it first)

removing link to odious source, see below

[rawstory]

28. Non-Washington Times link

http://www.bluelemur.com/index.php?p=88

(also includes press release snippet)

[gottaB]

29. and an AP version

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--rangel-sudan0713jul13,0,4754414.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[bluedeminredstate]

23. Maybe he thought Powell's

insipid comments weren't enough to bring attention to the disaster.
Of course American news doesn't send foreign correspondents to hot zones anymore - only the BBC does that...

[goclark]

24. How many ways can I say I love

I love Charles Rangel!!

He is a champion, not just for his people, but for ALL people of good will.

He knows how to out smart the bad guys and they don't even know that he took a big chunk out of their bodies.

He is a strong piece of leather, well put together.

We love you Charlie, we love you a lot!!!!!

[Kanary]

25. I'm with you! I'm calling his office to thank him for his actions!

Can you imagine if *MOST* of our Dems were like this?

What a country we'd have then!

Kanary, in awe of Charles Rangel!

[Amaya]

27. CBC doing the right thing yet again

Only if other Dems would follow their example....
*sigh*

[wildeyed]

30. I emailed my reps

asking that they do something about this issue. Don't know if that will help, but since the man went to all the trouble to get arrested, seems the least I could do.

[Snazzy]

31. Kick

Was just about to fax him via ACLU re Patriot death penalty thing.

[gottaB]

32. photos fon Yahoo!, more news coverage

We Shall Not Be Moved

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040713/480/dcmc10607131827

&e=1&ncid=

&e=1&ncid=

&e=1&ncid=

&e=1&ncid=

Knight-Ridder: http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/world/9145693.htm

The Hill: http://www.thehill.com/news/071404/rangel.aspx

BET: http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c1gb10075-11119,00.html

[sunfish03]

33. They noticed

"But anyone - including Mr. Powell and Mr. Annan - interested in averting more tragedy there must understand that Darfur is not an accidental apocalypse of mass slaughters, enslavement, pillage, and ethnic cleansing. The Darfur pogrom is part of a historic continuum in which successive Arab governments have sought to entirely destroy black Africans in this biracial nation.

Darfur is not a mere humanitarian disaster that access by international relief agencies can reverse. The raison d'être of the atrocities committed by government-supported Arab militias is the racist, fundamentalist, and undemocratic Sudanese state."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0714/p09s02-coop.html

Rangal has noticed that BLACKS are the victims here, he has his heart in the right place but he is so divisive as to be a caricature in his home state.

[AlFrankenFan]

35. They're arresting the wrong man!

Go find Bush! Go find Bush!

[Seeking Serenity]

36. This is very distressing

France, supposed to be one of the good guys (opposing US imperial designs) seems to be blocking UN sanctions re: Sudan.

"France says it does not support US plans for international sanctions on Sudan if violence continues in Darfur.

"The UN Security Council is debating a US draft resolution imposing sanctions on militias accused of "ethnic cleansing" against non-Arabs.

"France led opposition to US moves at the UN over Iraq. As was the case in Iraq, France also has significant oil interests in Sudan."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3875277.stm

[Suspicious]

38. France is not a "good guy", per se.

Things are rarely so black/white.

France's opposition to our invasion of Iraq was not due to seraphic ideals on their part. They have their own interests to look after, which sometimes (probably more often, in the future) run quite contrary to those of the U.S.

[Seeking Serenity]

39. In this case, Chirac seems to be OK with blood for oil

How very distressing.

[Suspicious]

40. Hard to forget, as well,

the fact that France recently stood steadfast alongside the U.S. in refusal to provide assistance to Aristide (no need to go into details as to the parties behind the coup - we can just leave it at that).

[gottaB]

41. Democracy Now coverage and interview, and a written statement

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/14/1411202

Also, see Rangel's written statement, Why I got Arrested in Washington Yesterday.