USA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPEAK UNIFIED ON DARFUR MAY 28, 2008

Outrage at genocide. A commitment to peace and security for the people of Darfur.

It's not a blue-state, red-state thing. It's a human rights thing.

Not since World War II have all major presidential candidates come together on an international issue.

Until now.

Today, Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama released a joint statement condemning the violence against the people of Darfur and promising to address the issue with "unstinting resolve." A three-quarter page ad in the New York Times today will announce this important development.

Can you help us spread the word about this historic statement?

Resources available to help spread the word, including:

• A template press release you can distribute to your media contacts
• A video of the candidates' statements on Darfur
• A PDF of the ad running today in the New York Times

The joint statement demanding an end to the violence in Darfur and pledging to pursue this goal with unstinting resolve once elected:

WE STAND UNITED ON SUDAN

As we campaign for President of the United States over the next several months, we expect there to be significant focus on the many differences between us. After all, elections are about choices in a free society. We have had a spirited contest so far and fully expect a robust debate about issues foreign and domestic right up to Election Day.

As we engage in this process, we are fully aware that friend and foe around the globe are watching and sometimes reacting based on their own analysis of the latest developments in the campaign.

It is with this awareness that we are taking the uncommon step of issuing a joint statement about an issue.

After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world community.

We deplore all violence against the people of Darfur. There can be no doubt that the Sudanese government is chiefly responsible for the violence and is able to end it. We condemn the Sudanese government's consistent efforts to undermine peace and security, including its repeated attacks against its own people and the multiple barriers it has put up to the swift and effective deployment of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force. We further condemn the Sudanese government's refusal to adhere to the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the conflict in southern Sudan.

Today, we wish to make clear to the Sudanese government that on this moral issue of tremendous importance, there is no divide between us. We stand united and demand that the genocide and violence in Darfur be brought to an end and that the CPA be fully implemented. Even as we campaign for the presidency, we will use our standing as Senators to press for the steps needed to ensure that the United States honors, in practice and in deed, its commitment to the cause of peace and protection of Darfur's innocent citizenry. We will continue to keep a close watch on events in Sudan and speak out for its marginalized peoples. It would be a huge mistake for the Khartoum regime to think that it will benefit by running out the clock on the Bush Administration. If peace and security for the people of Sudan are not in place when one of us is inaugurated as President on January 20, 2009, we pledge that the next Administration will pursue these goals with unstinting resolve.

Signed by
Hillary Rodham Clinton
John McCain
Barack Obama

Watch the presidential candidates' video about Darfur and thank them for their statement of unity.
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Link to the video savedarfur.org/page/content/voteredu

Click here to thank the presidential candidates, for putting aside politics to stand up for what's right in Darfur.

After you have sent your message, please click here to ask your friends, family, and co-workers to join you in send a message to the candidates.

We have consensus; what we need is action. In less than eight months, one of these candidates will assume one of the most powerful positions in the world. Whoever it is, we must stand together to make sure the next president fulfils our responsibility to the people of Darfur.

A Democracy Depends on the Power of the People
That is You and Me
When We Relinquish Our Power
We Are No Longer a Practicing Democracy

Know, Act and Follow-up

www.savedarfur.org

1-800-GENOCIDE

My thank you email to the three candidates:

I want to thank you for your joint statement demanding an end to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The genocide in Darfur is a tragedy that transcends politics, and it is fitting that the three leading Presidential candidates stand up for this moral and human right to live out a natural life.

Genocide Stops With Us. As a part of a democracy I am doing my part to end the Darfur genocide.

It is not enough to lament such tragedies. We have a moral responsibility to stop them while there are still people left to protect.

Your joint statement is an essential step in fulfilling this responsibility, and I thank you for taking it.

Beyond your words, I trust you will take actions and help bring peace to Darfur.