Reps. Keith Ellison, Donna Edwards arrested protesting Sudan’s Darfur policies.
By on Apr 27th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Reps. Keith Ellison, Donna Edwards arrested protesting Sudan’s Darfur policies.
The AP reports that eight activists, including Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Donna Edwards (D-MD), John Lewis (D-GA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) were “led away from the [Sudanese] embassy in handcuffs Monday after crossing a police line.” The activists were protesting Sudan’s expulsion of aid groups from the Darfur region. Ellison said “it is wrong to deny aid to what he calls ‘the most vulnerable people on our planet.’”
Update Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) was also arrested.
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Sometimes a publicity stunt works.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:48 pmAnd now watch the Republicans brand them as criminals and demand their ouster.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pmWere any Republicans there, or issuing statements condemning Sudan’s actions?
Probably not, since their constituents might object.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:50 pmGood for them! They make me proud. Keep on standing up for human rights, guys!
April 27th, 2009 at 12:51 pmI heart Lynn Woolsey. She was my representative when I lived in California. She is a tough cookie and a shining example of what a woman can do with determination and grit. She raised her children as a single mother and at one point was receiving food stamps. And yet she didn’t let life beat her down and she ended up in Congress. She is a true Progressive. I just wish there were more of her in Congress.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:54 pmI admire their courage, but fear for their safety now that the Geneva Conventions have been tossed.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:55 pmAIO grasshopper Says:
Sometimes a publicity stunt works.
I’m sorry, but I don’t look at what they did as a “publicity stunt”. I look at it as an act of political courage. Too bad there aren’t more people out there who are willing to stand up for the people who can’t speak for themselves.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:56 pmpaz3 Says:
Were any Republicans there, or issuing statements condemning Sudan’s actions?
Probably not, since their constituents might object.
Not only that but the republican’ts might not make it back to the US alive if they were to go over there.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:56 pmGood for them for standing up for the Darfur policies. And who cares if the GOP starts spewing the koolaid spin on these lawmakers’ arrest. The Party of No is a party that stands for nothing and does nothing.
April 27th, 2009 at 12:57 pmOf course not, didn’t you know the Sudanese government is killing black people?
April 27th, 2009 at 12:59 pmThis is precisely what we need MORE of.
MORE courage from Democrats and progressives. And, yes, unfortunately, in this day and age, these five getting arrested will mean more change than if there were a protest of a hundred thousand people.
The protesters–those hungry for change–ME, and millions like me–have protested ENOUGH. We sent Democrats and Obama to D.C. to make change, not small talk. We are waiting to be led. That is the state of the nation.
And if Obama and the Democrats don’t make any real changes–Iraq policy, torture, investigate Bush, tax overhaul–it’s their own damned faults. At this point in FDR’s administration, the entire banking industry had been COMPLETELY OVERHAULED, despite the pathetic opposition of the Republicans at that time.
Why hasn’t that happened yet?
April 27th, 2009 at 12:59 pmWhile I applaud all these protesters and their efforts I only have one question for the members of Congress.
Isn’t there something closer to home you should be protesting?
April 27th, 2009 at 1:00 pmRepublicans?
Just give ‘em a teabag – they’ll show you what protesting is all about.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:00 pm“Isn’t there something closer to home you should be protesting?”
Fixed my typo. Great distillation.
This is a worthy cause to protest and be arrested for, but we need more Democrats–BIG names–willing to do this.
Leadership, baby. It’s what’s needed, and desperately, if we will ever get that change we were promised.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pmThe World has watched and said never again oops. Palestine Holocaust as thousands shown burning to death, sent to safe houses as each is bombed after the house is full. Darfur is dying we watch. Jewish Holocaust prayers never let this happen again. Rawanda wiped out millions never let this happen again. We didn’t learn a thing. The US is to busy defending torture and most Law Makers are so igorant they have no idea where Darfur is on the map. Only four Law Makers protest to bring attention to the crisis as others set at the bar and watch.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:19 pmThe picture you posted of one of the greatest living American heroes — John Lewis — cuffed & being led into a paddywagon for standing up for the victims of genocide is heartbreaking. Thank you for posting this.
The President should stop what he’s doing (meeting with a basketball team) & IMMEDIATELY pardon all of those arrested.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
April 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pmIf you’re not willing to go to jail, it’s not really a protest.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pmThere have been protests over the past 8 years with hundreds of thousands of participants. None ever made the evening news. ElBruce is right. If you are not only willing to go to jail but brave enough to take a stance that won’t be ignored, protesting is futile.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pmThis will certainly set the Flying Monkey/Phuq-tard contingent all a’twitter.
It will dominate the cable news for a couple of days. There will be much surreptitious and camouflaged racist name-calling, demands for resignations, claims of mixed affinities (though none of the congresscritters I know of have dual citizenships), and of course provide much fodder for “our own bloggy ruminations.
I admire the courage of the folks who stand up for human rights! One of the significant differences between the Right and the Left is that the Left recognizes their own rights are jeopardized when the rights of others are violated; the Right tolerates such violations as a perquisite of power because they, as wielders of power, don’t imagine they’d ever be its victims…
April 27th, 2009 at 1:43 pmOne learned quickly circa ‘68-’73 to leave your pot at home if you were gonna demonstrate, exactly on the theory that there was always a fair chance you’d go to jail.
And cops HATED us “hippie/commie/fag” demonstrators. “Hated” may not even be a strong enough word…
Going to jail if you were part of the “counter-culture” meant you were gonna get beat-up…one way or another, it was gonna hurt…
Wonder if the cops REALLY tightened the cuff behind the backs of the Honorable Members? Man, that’s uncomfortable…
April 27th, 2009 at 1:48 pmGood for them. I’m proud of these Reps.
Will they be arrested next for protesting torture?
April 27th, 2009 at 1:49 pmYes let’s arrest the only African American congress member, that’ll stop crime :tard:
April 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pmProud f uckwit,
The Reps are in THIS country. Dork.
BTW, I would think you’d admire Obama’s use of the telepromter, since your great teleprompter god Ronnie Reagan couldn’t even think without one. Nor could George Bush I or Bush II.
Seriously, is that ALL you’ve got? :-D
April 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pmZooey Says:
Good for them. I’m proud of these Reps.
Will they be arrested next for protesting torture?
April 27th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Why, Zooey! We’re not torturing anymore. Everybody says so. Sure, once upon a time, in the dark reaches of the uncertain past, mistakes were made, out of an excess of zeal for freedom.
But that’s all over now. We have to put it behind us. Not look back, but look ahead to that bright shining futur of freedom and liberty (well, surveillance and poverty, too)…
April 27th, 2009 at 1:54 pmNary a repug among them – that’s for sure – but how long before they come out in criticism for their colleagues’ public display of humanity?
April 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pmWe all know repugs would never do anything like that — they only gather their minions and provide them with teabags to demonstrate a mistaken and silly point — in fact, they get their minions to oppose what actually works in their own best interests.
Proud Says:
Are they still is custody? If so, I say waterboard them now. That will teach them to disrespect the rule of law in a foreign country.
Are you really that stupid? Unless of course you now consider the USA to be a foreign country. They were protesting in front of the Sudanese embassy, here in the USA.
Have you ever protested for something you believe in? Probably not, because your beliefs change as often as Rush Limbaugh changes his jockey shorts.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pmZooey Says:
Proud f uckwit,
The Reps are in THIS country. Dork.
BTW, I would think you’d admire Obama’s use of the telepromter, since your great teleprompter god Ronnie Reagan couldn’t even think without one. Nor could George Bush I or Bush II.
At least President Obama doesn’t need to have hard words spelled phonetically so he can pronounce them the way Bush did. The sad thing is, even with a teleprompter Bush still couldn’t get a coherent sentence out.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:27 pmCome on ThinkProg, there were five congressmen there, Republicans participated in this also. Even I can let that get by and I don’t ever want to hear to about something that reflects favorably of the party of no
April 27th, 2009 at 2:29 pmnm, I guess I assumed that since one of the reps was from ga he was a repug
April 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pmProud Says:
Are they still is custody? If so, I say waterboard them now. That will teach them to disrespect the rule of law in a foreign country. Now Obama is going to have to go to Darfur and apologize like he has every where else.
So let me see if I parsed that right: you’re advocating doing something you know is both wrong and illegal so that Obama can apologize for it so you can then claim to have scored a political point? Somewhere, something seems to have flown completely over your flat little head.
On top of that, you’re now against protests of any torture, whether performed by America or any other country? You’re now universally pro-torture? Good luck with that. See y’all in 2010.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:34 pmProud Says
April 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Are they still is custody? If so, I say waterboard them now. That will teach them to disrespect the rule of law in a foreign country.
____________________________________________________________
Um…waterboarding is an interrogation technique. Why should these Congressmen and women be interrogated? Are there some secrets you think we should get out of them that they won’t divulge any other way? Is there a ticking time bomb somewhere that only they know about?
Or are you just saying “waterboard them now” because you’re an idiot?
April 27th, 2009 at 2:36 pmbrandonk Says:
Come on ThinkProg, there were five congressmen there, Republicans participated in this also.
Here’s the full list:
Jim McGovern (D-Mass)
April 27th, 2009 at 2:38 pmJohn Lewis (D-Ga.)
Donna Edwards (D-Md.)
Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.)
Hoodathunktick Says:
If you are not only willing to go to jail but brave enough to take a stance that won’t be ignored, protesting is futile.
This is what’s the most laughable about the teabaggers. If you’re going to let permits and environmental regulations stop you, then you’re not really protesting. Willingness to getting arrested has always been a central component of effective nonviolent protest.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pmWell yes, now that Bush is no longer wiretapping Democratic members of Congress, how else does the RNC form their strategy to take over the country once again.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:45 pmThese Reps have my respect. It’s not everyday that politicians stand up for people’s rights.
What, no Rethuglicans being arrested?! Sarcasm off. The Rethuglicans are probably trying to figure out how they’re going to keep the Bush Crime Family from being prosecuted for torture. Or maybe they’re planning their next “NO” campaign against Obama.
Good on Ellison, Woolsey, Edwards and Lewis for standing up.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:54 pmshoeless Says:
Well yes, now that Bush is no longer wiretapping Democratic members of Congress, how else does the RNC form their strategy to take over the country once again.
Surely Rove must have some ideas. They kept telling us what a genius he is…
April 27th, 2009 at 2:54 pmOne question. Why weren’t they doing that protesting when we were doing what we did at Gitmo and other places? Just asking.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:13 pmLook at England and how they protest. This last one at the G20 was MILD compares to priors! These STUPID tea-sagger are a disgrace to protests.
I’ll agree that protesting must lead to jail to make a true stance but add a little blood for show and NOW you’re rock’n.
Congress could show some blood but jail might interfere with holding their seat……
April 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pmProud Says:
You are nothing but a punkass troll. An ignorant piece of garbage that knows he is stupid and just says things he thinks will annoy us. What you dont get is that you are extraordinarily stupid and pathetic, not clever so it just makes you look like the brainwashed fool you are. It serves no other purpose
April 27th, 2009 at 4:41 pmZooey Says: 24
Of course it is all he has. It will REMAIN all he has until Rush tells him something new to think.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pmI share the protestor’s outrage. However, where were they during the Clinton Administration’s failure to send a minimum amount of troops (i.e. “wage war”) to rescue the victims of Rwanda back in 1993?
Moreover, getting arrested by U.S. authorities for a symoblic minimum amount of time is hardly a profile in courage. Making a point? Okay, fine. But do you think that such a minimum effort is going to have even the slightest affect on the Sudanese Government?
These typical Democrats rarely advocate military action on behalf of freedom for those suffering in oppressed Countries. No, these legislators would rather “wage peace” which is a santimonious way of condemning those who would prefer to “wage war” on behalf of others.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pmDemocrats showing a great deal of spine. Rock On!
April 27th, 2009 at 5:06 pmThese idiots must of thought they were in Cuba. Darfur is much more dangerous then Cuba is for anyone. If these fools wants to protest like the other fools then let them spend the require time in jail and then cane them before they are released. They were lucky this time. The next time they might not be so lucky. They should have taken the time to see how they treat Americans in foreign jails. It’s not pretty. Any fools who endangers their freedom abroad should learn a lesson not to do it again for any reason.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:44 pmChapalody Says:
These idiots must of thought they were in Cuba. Darfur is much more dangerous then Cuba is for anyone. If these fools wants to protest like the other fools then let them spend the require time in jail and then cane them before they are released. They were lucky this time. The next time they might not be so lucky.
You’re a silly person!
They weren’t in Darfur. They were in D.C. In front of the Darfur embassy. In Washington D.C, which is in the U.S.A.
But you keep running with that – facts are like scissors to wingnuts.
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