(Chicago Sun-Times) The Illinois Legislature should take punitive action against the genocidal regime in Sudan. The people of Illinois have a tradition of principled activism that should be harnessed to combat global evils whether at home or abroad.
As one of the largest, most industrious, diverse and progressive states, does Illinois have a moral responsibility to speak to the evils of genocide abroad? In my view, the answer is yes. The “anti- genocide” divestment legislation being proposed by state Sen. Jacqueline Collins places Illinois at the helm of moral global leadership. As one of few states with a regional trade bureau in Africa, extensive private and public sector relationships throughout the continent and the only state with a U.S. senator who is of direct African origin, Illinois should be at the forefront of fighting genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
On Feb. 20, I visited St. Sabina Church, 1209 W. 78th, to hear Paul Rusesabagina speak (to listen to the speech, visit www.saintsabina.org). St. Sabina is a spirit-filled African-American Catholic community of faith, guided by the dynamic priest and messenger, the Rev. Michael L. Pfleger.
Rusesabagina is the former manager of the Hotel Des Milles Collines in Rwanda whose story is depicted in the excellent and true-to-fact movie “Hotel Rwanda.” While the international community, including the United States and the United Nations, watched preventable genocide unfold in Rwanda, killing 1 million people, Rusesabagina saved the lives of more than 1,200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus from extremist Hutu killers.
At a post-speech press conference, Pfleger announced that in protest of genocide in Darfur, his church would no longer fly the American flag but rather the Sudanese flag at half-staff until action is taken to end the atrocities in Darfur.
What was surprisingly not carried by the media was the press conference announcement of Collins’ plan to introduce “anti-genocide” legislation that would: (1) disqualify as a state depository any bank or savings and loan association from making a loan to entities conducting business in or with the government of Sudan; and (2) prohibit the investment or deposit from the retirement system or pension fund to entities conducting business in or with the government of Sudan.
Collins’ legislation is appealing because it supports declarations by the executive branch and Congress that genocide has been committed and may still be occurring in the Darfur region, and that the government of Sudan and militias backed by the government of Sudan bear full responsibility for the genocide.
Democrats and Republicans alike have worked in a bipartisan way at the national level to pass the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act in the 108th House of Representatives (H.R. 5061) and Senate (S. 2781), pronouncing genocide in Sudan and recommending four critical action points for the U.S. government — namely, U.S. leadership in an international effort to prevent genocide in Darfur, consideration of multilateral or unilateral intervention, the imposition of targeted sanctions against the Khartoum government and the establishment of a resettlement and rehabilitation fund for genocide victims.
From this background, Collins’ legislation not only seeks to support national efforts to halt genocide in Darfur, but more important, localizes and captures the moral essence of the 1948 Genocide Convention, which confirms that “genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law.” The United States has a positive duty to prevent and punish acts of genocide.
If the people of Illinois abhor mass killing, forced starvation and the systematic rape of women and children, they should demand that their state legislators support Collins’ critical divestment legislation. Illinois is a part of the international community. Let us not allow our ignorance and historical ambivalence of African affairs and suffering translate into unequal global treatment for dying Africans. Illinois can make a difference. Collins’ legislation is nonpartisan and should be backed in a bipartisan way by all Illinois lawmakers, particularly the party of Lincoln, which was founded on the premise of freedom for enslaved and stateless Africans in America.
