Congressmen Arrested in Darfur Protest

Frustrated about U.S. inaction on Darfur, five members of Congress today took to the streets in protest—and were promptly arrested at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. The five lawmakers—including Rep. John Lewis of Georgia and Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota—were charged with civil disobedience and levied a $100 fine. Several leaders of Darfur advocacy groups also were arrested at the demonstration, held to protest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s ejection of aid groups from Sudan. On his way out of the police station after paying his $100 fine, one of the congressmen said, “If we can help raise awareness and create a sense of urgency and get President Obama more involved, then I think it was worth it.”