March 10, 2005
(Washington, DC) – Today the House International Relations Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Human Rights, and International Operations approved H.CON.RES 88, a bill introduced by Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee, to recognize and commemorate the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Rep. Lee emphasized the importance remembering the Rwanda genocide, particularly given the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
“We must remember and learn from the lessons of Rwanda, and that means acting to stop the genocide taking place in Darfur” said Rep. Lee. “The world cannot stand idly by again and let another 800,000 innocent people be slaughtered.”
The resolution was amended to include language honoring Paul Rusesabagina, the real life hotel manager who saved more than 1,200 Tutsi and Hutu refugees in 1994 and whose experience was the depicted in the acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda. Rep. Lee introduced an amendment that added language recognizing the important role of Paul's wife, Tatiana. Rep. Lee’s amendment was accepted with unanimous consent.
“We honor the courage and the integrity of Paul and Tatiana Rusesabagina,” said Rep. Lee “Their example of courage in the face of atrocity is one that our government and the international community would do well to follow in Darfur.”
Rep. Lee traveled to Sudan in January to visit the refugee camps of those displaced by the Darfur genocide with a group that included Mr. Rusesabagina and actor Don Cheadle, who played him in the film. Rep. Lee and Mr. Rusesabagina appeared together in Oakland on February 28th at an event sponsored by the Oakland Public Library.
Rep. Lee is the most senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee, and has been a champion of the growing movement to divest state pension funds from companies doing business in Sudan. Divestment legislation has been introduced in California, New Jersey, Illinois and Texas. According to a report by the Center for Security Policy, state pension funds hold investments of nearly $200 billion in companies doing business in Sudan.
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Rep. Barbara Lee Leads Effort to Commemorate Rwanda Genocide
Says Mistakes of Rwanda Must Not Be Repeated in Darfur
(Washington, DC) – Today the House International Relations Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Human Rights, and International Operations approved H.CON.RES 88, a bill introduced by Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee, to recognize and commemorate the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Rep. Lee emphasized the importance remembering the Rwanda genocide, particularly given the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
“We must remember and learn from the lessons of Rwanda, and that means acting to stop the genocide taking place in Darfur” said Rep. Lee. “The world cannot stand idly by again and let another 800,000 innocent people be slaughtered.”
The resolution was amended to include language honoring Paul Rusesabagina, the real life hotel manager who saved more than 1,200 Tutsi and Hutu refugees in 1994 and whose experience was the depicted in the acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda. Rep. Lee introduced an amendment that added language recognizing the important role of Paul's wife, Tatiana. Rep. Lee’s amendment was accepted with unanimous consent.
“We honor the courage and the integrity of Paul and Tatiana Rusesabagina,” said Rep. Lee “Their example of courage in the face of atrocity is one that our government and the international community would do well to follow in Darfur.”
Rep. Lee traveled to Sudan in January to visit the refugee camps of those displaced by the Darfur genocide with a group that included Mr. Rusesabagina and actor Don Cheadle, who played him in the film. Rep. Lee and Mr. Rusesabagina appeared together in Oakland on February 28th at an event sponsored by the Oakland Public Library.
Rep. Lee is the most senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee, and has been a champion of the growing movement to divest state pension funds from companies doing business in Sudan. Divestment legislation has been introduced in California, New Jersey, Illinois and Texas. According to a report by the Center for Security Policy, state pension funds hold investments of nearly $200 billion in companies doing business in Sudan.
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