UUA News & Events: Sinkford Arrested while Protesting at Sudanese Embassy

News 2004

Sinkford Arrested while Protesting at Sudanese Embassy

UUs Speak Out Against Genocide in Darfur


	Sinkford leads march, followed by Paula Cole Jones, Scott Alexander, and area UUs.

	Sinkford speaks at embassy, with Danny Glover (top right) and members of TransAfrica Forum.

	Bill Sinkford being arrested at embassy.
	Photographs by Anthony Clark.

(Washington, DC -- August 26, 2004) UUA President William Sinkford was arrested yesterday in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC, as part of an ongoing protest against genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The demonstration, attended by UUs from several area congregations, followed a worship service at All Soul's Church, Unitarian . In his sermon, Rev. Sinkford said, "This is a day of conscience. We have come together to stand in solidarity with both the suffering and the possibility that is represented in a part of the world that is far away from our own homes. We come to stand in solidarity with persons who are suffering, who are starving, who are dying, who are being raped.....Although there are many things we cannot change, we can change what is happening in Sudan."

The August 25th protest at the Sudanese Embassy was part of the "Sudan: Day of Conscience" actions organized by the Save Darfur Coalition. In early August, Rev. Sinkford was one of the initial signers of the Coalition's Unity Statement . More than 30 UU protesters demonstrated at the embassy, including about ten ministers. At the conclusion of the demonstration, Rev. Sinkford and several other protestors approached the door of the embassy and were arrested for trespassing when they refused to leave. Among those arrested were actor/activist Danny Glover, TransAfrica Forum president Bill Fletcher, and Salih Booker and Emira Woods, also from TransAfrica Forum.

During his sermon, Sinkford joked to the congregation, “It's been too long since I've been arrested.” Asked later about his experience in custody, he noted that the Secret Service and District police were very professional, considerate and even supportive: “The arrest was absolutely a ritual formality, but it was an effective formality due to the presence of Danny Glover.” The DC papers and CNN covered the action, and Sinkford hopes that the heightened awareness will pressure our government to get more involved in stopping the violence in Darfur.

Sinkford described Danny Glover as “a delightful human being,” adding, “He is very committed to issues of justice, and a very humble man.” When asked how his role as a minister shaped his experience, Sinkford said, “Although the arrest was not aggressive, we did spend 5 hours at the precinct. We talked at length about how to pursue justice and peace, not only in the world, but also in our own lives.”

According to event coordinator Paula Cole Jones, witnessing on behalf of victims on the other side of the world is the right thing to do in and of itself, but it also helps further justice within our own communities. Reflecting on the day's events, Jones said, “When the UUA and our congregations take a public stand around matters of race, our religious community and our faith become more relevant to people of color, and as a result, we become more multi-cultural.“

Sinkford urged congregations to get involved: “It is very important for UUs, and all people of conscience, to make their voices heard. It is indeed possible for an enormous humanitarian tragedy to be avoided. If we can help our leaders understand the dimensions of what is unfolding in Darfur, thousands of lives can be saved. The US House and Senate have taken the first step, by naming these atrocities ‘genocide.' And if there is one thing about which all people of conscience agree, it is that genocide cannot be tolerated.”

For more information on how you and your congregation can help, please visit the UUA's Washington Office website and the UU Service Committee's Darfur page .

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