Damanga participates in Dream for Darfur Washington DC Torch Relay

12/17/07

            Monday December 10, 2007, Damanga attended the Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch Relay in Washington DC. Among the many speakers were Darfuri  Niemat Ahmadi, Motasim Adem, Mia Farrow, Joey Cheek and Rev. Gloria White Hammond. Executive Director Mohamed Yahya, also was given an opportunity to speak in front of the Chinese Embassy.

The relay started out from the US Holocaust Museum, where Nesse Godin spoke, and the march continued on to the front of the White House on Lafayette Park, where Rev. Richard Cizik spoke. From the White House, the relay continued on to the Sudanese embassy. At the Sudanese embassy, Niemat Ahmadi, and Motasim Adem spoke, after which, Actress Mia Farrow went into the embassy to drop her contact information for Embassy officials. The crowd left the Sudanese Embassy, and made their way to their final destination, the Chinese Embassy. At the Chinese Embassy, Melissa Fitzgerald, Mia Farrow, Joey Cheek and other Olympic athletes, Joe Madison, and Rev. Gloria White Hammond spoke including Mohamed Yahya of Damanga. All the speakers urged the Chinese government to help save the people of Darfur, as China has a major role to play in the present and future situation of Sudan. The speakers urged China to use their influence to make the government of Sudan stop the destruction of lives, property, and a race. Torches were lit from every location and torch-bearers held up the torches throughout the relay. These torches were to symbolize the 2008 Olympics to be hosted by China. The Dream for Darfur Torch Relay is to ask China to bring the Olympic dream to Darfur.