“I first became aware of the atrocities in Darfur in 2004 while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since becoming a U.S. senator, I have cosponsored many pieces of legislation aimed at stopping the violence and achieving peace in Darfur. Most recently, I traveled to Sudan to engage with officials from the government of Sudan on many issues including Darfur, as well as to visit an internally displaced person camp in El Fasher, North Darfur.
“I believe that I have an obligation as a husband, father, grandfather, and U.S. senator who is the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs to ensure that innocent women and children in Africa are protected from conflict and violence. My official travels have allowed me to see firsthand much of the violence and suffering taking place in Africa, and I do not believe that any person should have to live in such deplorable situations.
“While the issue of Darfur is always on my radar, I do have many constituents who contact me on a regular basis to express their views on the current situation there. Constituents affiliated with groups such as Save Darfur and the Georgia Coalition to Prevent Genocide regularly contact my office and meet with me and my staff. While my position on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs keeps me well aware of what is going on in Sudan, in particular Darfur, it is very beneficial to me to hear from my constituents who are working toward ending the violence in Darfur.”
This profile and many others were compiled for The Enough Moment, a book by John Prendergast and Don Cheadle about engaged citizens – known and unknown, in the U.S. and abroad – who are mobilizing to help end genocide, rape, and the use of child soldiers in Africa. Visit the Enough Moment Wall to hear people describe their “Enough moment” and to upload a video, photo, or written testimonial of your own.