KIM
LAWTON: In front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington,
cries for an end to genocide, persecution, and slavery in
Sudan. The Church Alliance for a New Sudan promises regular
protests and acts of civil disobedience to ratchet up attention
to their cause. They're also urging the U.S. government
to take stronger steps to end the suffering.DIANE KNIPPERS (protestor): We're demanding so much more from our government.
LAWTON: For the past 18 years, Sudan has been locked in [a] civil war between the National Islamic Front government, in the north, and the largely Christian and animist south. More than two million people have been killed and four million
displaced,
most in the south. According to human rights groups, civilian
targets -- hospitals, schools, and churches -- are routinely
bombed. Women and children are abducted and sold into slavery.Evangelist Franklin Graham, son of [the Reverend] Billy Graham, is one of the leading voices urging a solution.
FRANKLIN GRAHAM (Evangelist): In ... Sudan, I have black brothers and sisters in the same faith, and somebody needs to speak out on their behalf.
LAWTON: Surprisingly diverse allies are speaking out with him. Singer Michael Jackson says he'll go to Sudan next month to call attention to ongoing slavery.
A delegation representing the U.S. Catholic Bishops visited the region earlier this month. One of the delegation members shot this video. They called on the U.S. government to help negotiate an immediate U.N.-monitored cease-fire.
Others are urging even stronger action.


GRAHAM: This is evil and the United States, regardless
of how complex the issues are, we should not stand by and
just say, well this is complicated, and we should think
about this before we do anything. Listen, two million people
have died here.