JWW Executive Director Among Those Arrested in D.C. at Sudanese Protest

ENCINO, Calif., March 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred Kramer, Executive Director of Jewish World Watch, was arrested this morning at the Sudanese embassy in D.C. in protest of the Sudanese government's attacks on the residents of the Nuba Mountains region in Sudan.  Kramer was participating in a peaceful protest with actor George Clooney, Congressman Jim McGovern and other prominent activists and government officials.

"We cannot stand idly by while innocent civilians are bombed, driven from their homes, and systematically starved by the genocidal regime of Omar al-Bashir," said Kramer.  "Jewish World Watch is actively working to improve the lives of the people of Sudan through political advocacy, education, and funding for on-the-ground projects in the region.  But we need the US government to ensure that international aid can reach the victims of this urgent crisis."

Protesters demanded that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir immediately end the blockade that is preventing food and humanitarian aid from reaching the people of Sudan's Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions. Bashir's forces created the dire food shortage in the region--predicted by USAID to reach near-famine levels this month--by bombing fields and preventing villagers from planting crops in July and August last year.

After speaking on the steps of the embassy to hundreds of activists, members of Congress and activist leaders were asked by police to leave the scene. When the protest continued, officers arrested those who would not comply. Additional participants arrested in the civil disobedience included Nick Clooney, Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast, Jewish Council for Public Affairs President Rabbi Steve Gutow, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism Director Rabbi David Saperstein, and American Jewish World Service Associate Director of Policy Ian Schwab.

Jewish World Watch will host the largest anti-genocide event in America on Sunday, May 20, 2012, when thousands of people participate in the 6th Annual WALK TO END GENOCIDE to raise awareness, support, hope and funds to help the survivors of genocide in Sudan and the victims of mass atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

ABOUT JEWISH WORLD WATCH: Jewish World Watch, a Los Angeles-based human rights organization, is a coalition of 70 synagogues working together to combat genocide and mass atrocities worldwide. Since its founding seven years ago, JWW has achieved significant success within its three mission goals: education, advocacy and humanitarian relief, having allocated over $6 million in direct assistance to the people of Sudan and Congo.  For more information, see www.jewishworldwatch.org or contact Jonathan Golub at [email protected].

SOURCE Jewish World Watch