Dayton citizens will rally with Nick Clooney, activist and father of actor George Clooney, and Ibrahim Adam to call for an end to the genocide in Darfur.

Local nonprofit Dayton for Darfur will hold a rally and march Saturday, April 19, beginning at 1 p.m. at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton. A march will lead the rally from Courthouse Square to the Dayton Convention Center on East Fifth Street. The purpose of the rally is to educate the public about the genocide in Darfur, and to increase lobbying efforts.

Any funds raised will go to the Save Darfur Coalition to support efforts to end the genocide and to Doctors Without Borders to provide ongoing assistance to victims of the genocide.

Local reggae artist Seefari will kick off the gathering at 12:45 as people assemble. Speakers will then present at both locations. Speakers include:

• Journalist, actor, and politician Nick Clooney, who has visited Darfur and been active in international efforts to raise awareness about the genocide.

• Darfuri refugee Ibrahim Musa Adam, who has been traveling with and presenting on behalf of the Save Darfur Coalition's "Voices from Darfur" project

• Local pastor Jonathan Slaughter, from Ginghamsburg Church, who has observed the violence in Darfur

• Dayton City Commissioner Dean Lovelace

Local radio host Rev Cool, of Yellow Springs' WYSO, will emcee the event. Petitions and preprinted letters and postcards for lobbying policy-makers will be circulated. Darfur-related merchandise will be on sale. Proceeds will go to pay for the cost of the rally and to the Save Darfur Coalition and Doctors Without Borders. In the event of inclement weather, the rally will be moved inside to the Dayton Convention Center, and the march will start from and return to the convention center.

Cosponsors of the Dayton Rally for Darfur include: Amnesty International, The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), The Dayton Circus, The Dayton International Peace Museum, Genocide Intervention Network, Ginghamsburg Church, The Jewish Community Relations Council, the Save Darfur Coalition, Save the Children, STAND (University of Dayton chapter), and Wright State University Physicians for Human Rights.

For more information, go to www.daytonfordarfur.org.

Vote for this story!