Kicking Off The Ride Against Genocide Tour

I just got back from the press conference to kick off our Ride Against Genocide: Promoting Awareness and Action tour. It was so uplifting to be on the steps of our beautiful capitol building overlooking the scenic mountains in the distance. We were so lucky to have Tamara Banks, International Correspondent on Channel 12, emceeing the press conference. Joining us was Barbara Coloroso, author of Extraordinary Evil: A Brief History of Genocide. Our other speakers included Essie Garrett, Ultra-marathoner and instructor at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, who has run thousands of miles on behalf of many charities and Ahmed Ali, a Darfurian and Secretary General of the Darfur Association in the United States (DAUSA). Additionally, Adrian Miller, Senior Policy Analyst for Gov. Ritter read the Govenor's Proclamation of Genocide Awareness Week for Colorado. (August 30 - September 5, 2010)

I have been with the Coalition for a few months now working on grants and preparing for this tour. It's so easy to just go through the motions and set aside the purpose of all this work. This press conference really hit home for me. Hearing Roz's moving speech and remembering that all our efforts are to save human beings just like us, to save our worldly brothers and sisters, gave me the same feeling I got the first time I met with Roz to learn more about the organization, a feeling of sadness and urgency mixed with goodwill and hopefulness.

GENOCIDE is a heavy word. Thinking about it gives me a feeling similar to when I look at the painful faces of the men and women begging on our own street corners, a simultaneous feeling of helpfulness and helplessness. In our daily lives, we all encounter our own struggles, our own problems with money, lack of food, lack of time, sickness etc. I've come to realize though that if we don't keep the fight against genocide alive, if we become passive, or if we push it aside for another day we are telling the world, the perpetrators, the victims, and our future generations that genocide is okay, that it is something that can be brushed under the rug and forgotten.

GENOCIDE seems like such a foreign concept to nations. Surely genocide would never happen 'my' country. I bet the Jews never thought that someone would try to wipe them from the face of the earth but they did. I bet the Tutsis and moderate Hutus of Rwanda never thought they would die at the hands of their neighbors and friends but they did. Not us, they surely thought.

If we turn on backs to the world who will be there to help if one day someone decides our life is no longer valuable and sets out to end it? Would we, too, be brushed under the rug and forgotten?

FEAR is two-pronged. While the Darfurians in Sudan are fearing for their lives, those who are able to help (you and I) are fearful of taking a stand. Saying "STOP GENOCIDE" is easy but committing yourself to the cause and recognizing that there are lives on the line holds you accountable. It may seem easy to not help at all but something as simple as saying genocide aloud and talking to your friend and family about what it is and where it is keeps it from slipping into the shadows and gives the people of Darfur and the memories of those who have perished in genocides past a fighting chance to live on.

I took the plunge and it isn't easy. There never seems to be enough time or enough money or enough people who care but if you were dying of starvation or your family was dying or your children were dying wouldn't you want someone to care? Take a minute to educate yourself and take the plunge. I promise it is worth it.

Please follow our tour here on our blog, on Twitter: @CCGAA or on Facebook: The Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action.

Visit http://www.ccgaa.org/events for the tour itinerary.

Courtney Allen, Summer Intern

Last minute preparations are underway for launching the Ride Against Genocide Genocide! We would also love to reach out to Denver citizens and tell them about our Denver Press Conference, which will launch our tour. See more information below:

Genocide Awareness Days in Colorado Press Conference

Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:30 a.m.

West Steps of State Capitol

The press conference will feature the following individuals:

Tamara Banks, Emmy-Award winning International Correspondent

Pastor Heidi McGinness, Director of Outreach/Christian Solidarity

International-USA and Member of CCGAA Board of Directors

Roz Duman, Founder and Director of CCGAA

Essie Garrett, 1992 Colorado Hall of Fame ‘Sportswoman of Colorado’ ultra-marathoner who has single-handedly raised over $1 million for charity

Adrian Miller, Senior Policy Analyst for Governor Ritter

***Also, we would love for anyone who is able to attend to come out and show their support for the press conference, all of the cities we will be touring, and for the Genocide Awareness Days Proclamation. Thanks!

Fact Sheet

RIDE AGAINST GENOCIDE:

PROMOTING AWARENESS AND ACTION

Fact Sheet

WHY?

Recognizing that our fight against genocide is only as strong as the number of people fighting and that true results can only come from actively pressuring our government to take action against the crimes in Darfur, CCGAA will be launchingRide Against Genocide: Promoting Awareness and Action at the end of this month. Ride AgainstGenocide will serve as an educational tour stopping in many cities throughout Colorado and will include brief rest stops in additional cities. The objective of the tour is to increase media awareness of, and promote advocacy against genocide. It will also serve to inform Coloradans about genocide and provide them with tools of action to help stop this current genocide and prevent future genocides.

WHAT?

The tour which will cover over 1500 miles in a four day period, will commence in Denver featuring a press conference at the state capitol and will end in Golden, Colorado. The Ride Against Genocide van will act as a moving billboard which will feature CCGAA’s website and logo. CCGAA volunteers will erect a 10x10 tent and information table outside the van at each stop. At that point, we will displayDeadweight of Complacency, a 20 panel exhibit that travels through a series of genocides that marks the destructive nature of mankind, distribute promotional materials, collect petition signatures, answer questions and provide interviews with the press. Riding in the van will be several CCGAA volunteers, Sudanese refugees and Essie Garrett, 1996 Colorado Olympic Torchbearer.

We plan to spend one or two hours in each city, patterning our tour after the historical “whistle stop” campaigns of the twentieth century.

WHEN?

Monday, August 30, 2010 – Thursday evening, September 2, 2010

WHERE?

Monday Aug. 30, 2010

9:30 am: Denver; Press Conference at Capitol

11:30-12:30: Colorado Springs; Pioneer Museum

1:30-2:30: Pueblo; El Pueblo History Museum

3:30-4:30: Walsenburg; Mining Museum

Day Two - Tuesday Aug. 31, 2010

8:00 am-8:30: Alamosa; Cole Park

11:15-12:15: Durango; Buckley Park

1:00-2:00: Ignacio; TBA

4:45-5:45: Telluride; North Spruce Mall (Main St.)

Day Three - Wednesday Sept. 1, 2010

8:00 am-8:30: Montrose; Autozone (257 E. Main St.)

9:45-10:45: Gunnison; IOOF Park

1:05-2:05: Grand Junction; 1^stCongregational United Church of Christ

3:45-4:45: Glenwood Springs; Centennial Park

Day Four - Thursday Sept. 2, 2010

9:00 am-10:30: Aspen; Cooper Mall

12:30-1:30: Vail; Betty Ford Park, East Lot

2:15-3:15: Breckenridge; Blue River Plaza

5:00-5:30: Golden; Clear Creek Water Park

We cannot believe there is only a week until our statewide tour! Now we are putting the final touches on our Denver press conference and reaching out to local mayors from all of the towns! We are also working on tour logistics, posters, extra paper materials, and final press releases! Everybody is really pulling together! Only a week!!

We are getting very excited here at CCGAA! Our tour is now less than two weeks away! We have secured locations where we can park, set up our table, and put up our tent in all of the cities where we will be making major stops! We are currently in the process of reaching out to senate/congressional district offices that fall along our route, local media throughout the state, and local governments in each city. But the work is not done! We still have a lot of work to do, but are upbeat and up to the challenge!

Ride Against Genocide: Promoting Awareness and Action in Colorado

What? Bus Ride Throughout Colorado to Promote Awareness and Action Regarding Genocide

When? August 30th-September 2nd (4 Days)

Number of major stops? ~20

Miles covered? ~1500

Keep posted! All of our interns and staff will update this blog about developments with the tour, interesting facts, photos, videos, and links.