National Student Director of STAND to visit Pittsburgh

Daniel Solomon is National Student Director at STAND: the Student-led Division of United to End Genocide. Daniel grew up in New York City and is a junior at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C., where he is majoring in international politics with a concentration in international security studies. Daniel first became involved with STAND when he was appointed National Burma Education Coordinator in June 2009. He also served as National Advocacy Coordinator during the 2010-2011 school year.

This is a great opportunity for local STAND groups and other student clubs and/or classes in the Pittsburgh area to meet a leader of this nation-wide student movement. Faith organizations may also wish to take advantage of Daniel's visit to schedule an opportunity for their youth group, social action committee, or entire congregation.

Please email or call David (412-992-0102) if you would like to explore a meeting with Daniel during his time in Pittsburgh. He will be here from Thursday, December 8 at noon through Saturday December 10 at 2 pm.

Sudan Caucus Letter Update: 11/22/11

Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-14) and Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18) were among 62 (sixty-two) co-signers of the attached letter to the Obama Administration from the Congressional Sudan Caucus urging a more focused and vigorous Sudan policy. PDEC reached out to both legislators and we appreciate their support!

"New country of South Sudan celebrated locally"

"The local celebration echoed the one in Juba, where the world officially welcomed the new country of South Sudan into the fold on Saturday, promising support to the war-torn nation even while warning of perils ahead. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese gathered to witness the independence day ceremonies and celebrate the newly born state, chanting 'We will never surrender' and 'South Sudan oyee' in glee" - Sean D. Hamill, PPG.

Be sure to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the South Sudan Independence Day celebration held at Whitehall Presbyterian Church on Saturday!

Free at Last! Hawa Abdullah Update

SUDANESE ACTIVIST RELEASED

Hawa Abdallah, a Sudanese woman who was arrested on 6 May in Darfur, was released on 13 July. She was arrested for ‘Christianizing’ children and being linked to an armed opposition group. Hawa Abdallah works as a community activist and a translator for the joint United Nations and African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in Darfur, western Sudan.

On 6 May 2011 she was arrested at her home in Abu Shouk village by armed officers of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). Two days later, an article published on Sudan’s state-run news website accused Hawa Abdallah of ‘Christianizing’ the children at the IDP camps where she works, and of having links to a Darfuri armed opposition group. The article also contained a photo of her looking fatigued and bruised, which increased concerns that she was being ill- treated. During her detention she was not charged, or allowed to see a lawyer or her family.

Previous to Hawa Abdallah’s arrest in May 2011, she was receiving death threats via text, telling her to leave Abu Shouk IDP camp. She was also arrested and detained for six days in 2009. During that time the NISS reportedly tortured her.

Hawa Abdallah is currently in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, undergoing medical check-ups.

- via Amnesty International press release

Be sure to read the local coverage of this great news, from Sean Hamill of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!

"Signs of Change"

PDEC's own David Rosenberg was featured in the June 2011 issue of Pitt Magazine. The article focuses on Rosenberg's roots as an activist and how PDEC came to be. Read the article online below.

Free Hawa Abdullah

Congressman Mike Doyle and Senator Bob Casey, Jr. plus six members of Pittsburgh City Council have joined with PDEC to advocate for the release of Ms. Hawa Abdullah, a Darfuri community activist and UNAMID staff member at the Abu Shouk displaced persons camp near El Fasher. Hawa Abdullah was illegally arrested on May 6 and is being detained by Sudanese security forces in an undisclosed location in Khartoum. She has been denied access to legal counsel and family. The Sudanese government has released a photo of her posed with a Christian bible in an attempt to suggest that Hawa was spreading Christianity among children in the IDP camps, a capital offense under Sudanese Sharia law. The charge is vehemently rejected by Hawa’s friends and acquaintances, many of whom now fear for her life.

We thank Congressman Doyle and Senator Casey, as well as Council members Peduto, Harris, Shields, Kraus, Rudiak, and Dowd for writing directly to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to advocate for Hawa Abdullah. View the letter written by Congressman Doyle and Senator Casey here and see the letter that City Council wrote here.

View the response from Ambassador Dane Smith to Pittsburgh City Council regarding Hawa Abdullah here.

We also thank Sean Hamill of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for his excellent coverage of events in Sudan and in the community.

PDEC is in touch with Human Rights Watch, which broke the story, and the Darfur Bar Assocation, as well as Niemat Ahmadi of Save Darfur/GI Net, in an effort to get updates on Hawa’s condition. We urge our supporters to send a message to Secretary Clinton and to call Congressman Doyle (412 390-1499 local; 202 225-2135 D.C. office) and Senator Casey,(412 803-7370 local and 202 224-6324 D.C. ) and your council person (Mr. Peduto 412 255-2133 took the lead on this) to thank them for their commendable actions.

Your support is urgently needed!

Save the Date - Saturday, July 9, 2011

Mark your calendar for July 9, 2011 for the local version of the worldwide celebration of South Sudanese independence. The new Republic of Southern Sudan will come into being on that date. Sudanese of all regions will mark the event in a daylong celebration at Whitehall Presbyterian Church, 4935 East Willock Rd., Pgh 15227-3659 (Baldwin/Brentwood/Whitehall area).

The Sudanese Community in Pittsburgh invites all friends of PDEC and the Sudanese/Darfur cause to join with them in this joyous celebration. They especially hope that students, religious and political leaders who are engaged with this cause will join with them as they celebrate independence and also express a commitment not to forget Darfur.

Please contact Benedict Killang at herkick@yahoo.com for more information.

Sudan advocate John Prendergast speaks to PDEC leaders

John Prendergast

Leading Sudan advocate John Prendergast, currently a visiting fellow at the Ford Institute for Human Security at Pitt, spoke to PDEC leaders
at Panera's Cafe in Shadyside on 2/22. He praised the work of the Coaliton and urged us to continue to mobilize behind a new "Roadmap of Peace in Darfur."

Councilman Doug Shields welcomed Prendergast to Pittsbugh and Christopher Rosselot, an aide to Sen. Casey, was present at the meeting, which was also attended by Sudanese Community leaders Benedict Killang, Ismail Omer Ismail, and Kawthar Albe. PDEC Coordinator David Rosenberg presented John Prendergast with a classic PDEC T-Shirt.

Check out the article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for more about our event and JP's visit to Pittsburgh!

Also, check out the blog that the Enough Project produced about this event!

"From Sudan to Pittsburgh: A long journey home"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed Darfuri refugees Ismail Omar and Mohamed Idris about their road to Pittsburgh, their connection to PDEC and their hopes for their homeland.

Ismail

Read the front page Sunday Edition article here.

Videos from the March and Rally for Peace in Sudan - January 5, 2011

Part 1

Part 2

Slideshow from the March and Rally for Peace in Sudan - January 5, 2011

View all of the photos from the January 5th March and Rally for Peace in Sudan here.

Pittsburghers March Ahead of South Sudan Referendum - January 5, 2011

"Activists call for peace in Sudan"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette came out to cover the March and Rally for Peace in Sudan on Wednesday. A crowd of some 80 people were on hand to advocate for peace in Sudan in the face of the critical referendum that will take place Sunday. Members of City Council were on hand to speak and march in support of the people of Sudan, as well as student, religious and community leaders. The South Sudanese community here in Pittsburgh was also present, calling on Khartoum to conduct safe and fair voting procedures. The March and Rally stressed the need to be conscious about the fact that the future of Sudan may well be decided on January 9, 2011.

Read the article here. Story by Vivian Nereim. Photo by Darrell Sapp/Post Gazette.

Please check out our other local media coverage as well:

Letters to the Editor - For Peace in Sudan 12/17/10

Pittsburgh to March Ahead of South Sudan Referendum 12/23/10

Meanwhile, in Sudan... 1/2/11

Pittsburgh Rally Focuses on Sudanese Secession Issue 1/4/11

Pittsburgh-area Sudanese travel to Virginia to vote 1/10/11

Letters to the Editor - Our Group's Goals 1/14/11

An Historic Moment in Sudan

On Sunday January 9, Southern Sudanese from Pittsburgh boarded a van for Arlington, Virginia to vote in the historic referendum that will determine the path of the largest country in Africa for the indefinite future.

Registrants

From left to right: Benedict Killang, Louis Vuga, John Albe and Marko Wani with their registration cards.

Discussion on the Upcoming Sudan Referenda

On November 16, 2010 Ambassador Jendayi Frazer, a top State Department official in the Bush administration, spoke to more than 60 activists in an event orgnized by PDEC and hosted by Carnegie Mellon University.

Pennsylvania Divests!

On July 7th, Governor Rendell signed into law, The Protecting Pennsylvania's Investment Act, S.B 928 divesting from foreign companies doing business in Sudan. Read more

The Way Forward in Darfur and South Sudan: A Pittsburgh Summit

March 19-21, 2010

On March 19-21,2010, the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition (PDEC) convened Darfuri and South Sudanese diaspora members, U.S.-based advocates and activists and governmental leaders for a summit on the way forward in Darfur and South Sudan at Carnegie Mellon University.

Other sponsors included Save Darfur Coalition, Global Solutions Pittsburgh, the Thomas Merton Center, and the Sudanese community in Pittsburgh.

Video of the special presentation on Saturday, May 20, 2010
Speakers include: David Rosenberg, Jerry Fowler, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Scott Gration, Niemat Ahmadi and Laura Beny.

Donate to help with the ongoing work of Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition

Congratulation to our Coordinator,
David Rosenberg,
April's Darfur Hero

Thanks to our political leaders, Representatives Mike Doyle and Tim Murphy for their support in the struggle for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan.
Read the congressional letter sent to Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton

PDEC G20 Destroyed Villages Display

We ran three buses to DC on April 19, 2009

Act Now For Darfur

PDEC postcard campaign tops 15,710

Add Your Voice, Sign A Postcard

Be part of the 20,000 Pittsburgh Voices for Darfur Postcard Campaign. Email us to order postcards free of charge.

Destroyed Villages Project

Destroyed Villages Rally -

March and Rally	Ongoing Advocacy
On May 18, Darfuri refugees, communityleaders, and Pittsburgh area residents joined PDEC in recognizing these lost villages at a march and rally in downtown Pittsburgh.	The village signs will be made available for school projects, exhibits, and other awareness or advocacy activities. Email for more information.

UPDATED: Click here to see the confirmed destroyed and damaged villages and here for a list of destroyed and damaged villages
Click here to view a photo gallery of the May 18 march and rally

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Wednesday, Feb. 1st

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