Everyday Activism
The stories and images of violence in the Darfur region of Sudan seem like a problem too big to stop. But taking action is really as simple as making a toll-free phone call, Ellen Kennedy said.
As Kennedy held the microphone, the audience listened while Southwest Minnesota State University student Kayleigh Booker called 1-800-GENOCIDE, entered her zip code and was forwarded directly to U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad’s office.
“Hello, Representative Ramstad. My name is Kayleigh Booker, and I’m one of your constituents. I’m just calling to ask you to support the extra $300 million for peacekeeping in Darfur,” Booker said.
“How cool is this?” Kennedy asked the audience Wednesday night at SMSU.
The 1-800-GENOCIDE hotline was created by the Genocide Intervention Network, an advocacy group devoted to educating and empowering people to stop genocide.
Kennedy said often all it takes to get the U.S. to take action against genocide is for legislators to know their constituents care.
“It’s been said that politicians walk around with a finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think our leaders aren’t doing anything (about Darfur) because they’re cruel, but because they think we don’t care.”