US Representative Mike Doyle (PA–14), Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto, and Tim Stevens, Chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project joined members of the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition at City Council Building.
Local leaders call for action to end genocide in Darfur
People from across our region are standing up and calling for action to end the genocide in Darfur. On April 25, some of our local leaders had the opportunity to make their voices heard.
US Representative Mike Doyle (PA–14), Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto, and Tim Stevens, Chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project joined members of the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition (PDEC) to on the steps of the City-Council Building on Tuesday, April 25, to recognize the local Darfur campaign and call for decisive action to end the genocide in Darfur.
“We would like to thank both Representative Doyle and Councilman Peduto. Representative Doyle has championed this issue in the House, cosponsoring a number of bills designed to help relieve suffering and end the violence in Darfur. Councilman Peduto has supported previous local Darfur-related initiatives and will be traveling to Washington, DC, with the PDEC on Sunday, April 30, to attend the national Rally to Stop Genocide in Darfur. In addition to Councilman Peduto, over 250 people from Pittsburgh, Western PA and Ohio will be coming on this trip,” said David Rosenberg, PDEC Coordinator.
PDEC, has collected over 13,000 postcards signed by residents of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania addressed to President Bush. The cards, part of the national "Million Voices for Darfur Campaign," call upon the President to use the powers of his office to push for a strong multinational protection force for Darfur. PDEC members called these cards to the attention of Congressman Mike Doyle.
"I promise you that these postcards will have an effect. We are going to continue to talk to more people in Congress. We are going to continue to pressure this Administration. We are going to continue to pressure the United Nations until people in Darfur and across this world can sleep in peace and security," said Congressman Doyle.
Following this rally, Councilman Peduto sponsored a City Council resolution recognizing the local campaign and calling for action to end the genocide in Darfur. Council members Bill Peduto, Tonya Payne and James Motznik all spoke in support of the resolution. It was also co-sponsored by Luke Ravensthal, Twanda Carlisle and Doug Shields.
