December 15, 2011

MEDIA ADVISORY: Activists Protest Lawyer’s Representation of Sudan

Filed under Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 
Susan Morgan,
617-797-0451, susan@paxcommunications.org

ADVISORY: ACTIVISTS PROTEST LAWYER’S REPRESENTATION OF SUDAN
As government attacks civilians, Bart Fisher profits by helping ease sanctions


WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 15, 2011 –  Act for Sudan, a bipartisan, interfaith alliance of 55 American and Sudanese advocacy organizations across the country, is coordinating a protest planned for Friday, December 16, 2011 outside the Law Offices of Bart Fisher, the Government of Sudan’s newly hired U.S. lawyer. Mr. Fisher recently agreed to provide legal support for the Sudanese government’s effort to be removed from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list. According to federal registration documents, he is being paid $20,000 a month by the government of Sudan.

Act for Sudan urges Mr. Fisher to stop helping Sudan avoid consequences for ongoing government-sponsored genocide and mass atrocities.  “As hundreds of thousands of civilians in Sudan face assault, famine and displacement at the hands of their own government, Mr. Fisher should be ashamed to argue that the United States should reduce any sanctions on this genocidal regime,” says Eric Cohen, an Act for Sudan member and spokesman.

WHEN: Friday, December 16, 11 AM to 1 PM ET
WHERE: 700 12th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. (Metro Center stop)

Hundreds of thousands of civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile face relentless aerial attacks, violent displacement, and starvation due to the Sudanese government’s ongoing military assaults.  Further, the government is denying humanitarian aid access to these vulnerable men, women and children. In Darfur, civilians continue living in insecurity and under government oppression and attack for years.

Recently, Act for Sudan coordinated an open letter to President Obama signed by 66 organizations across the country asking the United States to urgently address civilian protection and humanitarian assistance for millions of Sudanese facing government-sponsored attacks and obstruction of humanitarian assistance.

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Act for Sudan is an alliance of American citizen activists and Sudanese U.S. residents who advocate for an end to genocide and mass atrocities in Sudan. Act for Sudan is dedicated to advocacy that is directly informed by the situation on the ground and by Sudanese people who urgently seek protection, justice, and peace. For more information please visit www.actforsudan.org.