On July 26, 2005, the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur held a Rally for Darfur at City Hall Plaza.  Over 500 people attended the very moving and meaningful program and signed postcards to President Bush reminding him of his promise that genocide would not happen on his watch. Over $1100 for humanitarian aid organizations was raised.

The program included:

  • A performance by actresses of the Our Place Theatre in Roxbury
  • Musical performances by students from the Berklee School of Music
  • Opening and closing prayers by Rabbi Dr. Gershon C. Gewirtz of the Young Israel of Brookline and Reverend Gerald Bell of the Southern Baptist Church of Roxbury.
  • Remarks by Moses Ole Sakuda of Church World Service about work being done on the ground in Darfur and the importance of calling for justice.
  • Personal stories shared by Abuk Bak, a former Sudanese slave and Ernest Rugwizangoga, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. 
  • Liz Walker, a CBS-News anchor who has visited Darfur several times, served as the MC for the event.
  • Coalition Co-Chairs, Kenneth A. Sweder and Dr. Gloria E. White-Hammond also shared remarks and showed the crowd a six-foot watch that would be sent to President Bush to remind him that, despite his promise, genocide is happening on his watch. 
  • Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy and Representative Capuano sent a letter in support.