Thread: 5 Dem members of Congress arrested at Sudanese embassy

Woolsey arrested

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a Marin Democrat, was arrested at the Sudanese embassy this morning with four other members of Congress.

Woolsey was protesting with the Save Darfur Coalition, the Enough Project and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. The group was arrested by police after refusing to leave a protest on the embassy steps.

Woolsey, a leading dove in Congress and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, took note of the activists in her Marin district who "created 'Dear Darfur love Petaluma,' which spread to 'Dear Darfur love Marin,' and then 'Dear Darfur love Sonoma.' They also created 'Tents of Hope,' which has brought together activists nationwide to highlight the genocide, and has provided relief to thousands of displaced people in Darfur."

Woolsey vowed that the genocide in Darfur will be "a top priority in Congress." While praising President Obama's steps to "re-engage the international community," she said it's time to replace words with action. She urged the Obama administration to make Darfur a top issue in the U.S. relationship with China.

Other members of Congress arrested, all Democrats, were Reps. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, John Lewis of Georgia, Donna Edwards of Maryland and Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

Posted By: Carolyn Lochhead (Email) | April 27 2009 at 09:21 AM
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov ... 9172&tsp=1

Has our Congress got any brain cells working?