Armenian National Committee of America:

A.N.C.A. encouraged the international community to take steps to prevent the Sudanese government from retaliating against civilians, relief workers, and U.N. staff in reaction to the arrest warrant.

A.N.C.A. also expressed its concerns about the growing ties between the regimes in Ankara and Khartoum, noting the flow of weapons from Turkey to Sudan.

“‘Armenian Americans welcome the International Criminal Court’s decision today to indict Sudan’s President, Omar al Bashir, on charges of genocide,” said A.N.C.A. Executive Director Aram Hamparian. ‘We are hopeful that this indictment, the first ever issued by the ICC for genocide, will lead to both decisive action against the al-Bashir regime’s ongoing genocide against the people of Darfur, and, more broadly, to increased pressure on governments worldwide to work for a world in which genocide cannot be committed with impunity.’”

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

Calling the arrest warrant “an important step towards accountability,” the U.S.H.M.M. release added insight from Michael Abramowitz, Director of the Museum’s genocide prevention program:

“This is the first time that the International Criminal Court has accused a sitting head of state of genocide… Justice requires that President Al Bashir respond to these very serious charges against him… The Court action should not be used to justify retaliation against humanitarian groups who provide desperately needed assistance to innocent Sudanese citizens.”

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism:

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism statement offered a position on the arrest warrant from a religious leader’s perspective, citing its Director, Rabbi David Saperstein:

“The Reform Jewish Movement welcomes the additional charge of genocide in the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. This decision represents a step toward the legitimization of a system of international law that presents consequences for crimes against humanity, such as have been committed by the Government of Sudan against innocent civilians in Darfur…It is time to bring the perpetrators of these morally reprehensible acts to justice.”

Physicians for Human Rights:

P.H.R. joined others in praising the release of the I.C.C. arrest warrant and referenced findings from its 2006 report on Sudan relevant to the charges of genocide against Bashir:

“By issuing today’s warrant, the ICC recognizes what PHR’s research demonstrated years ago: Bashir’s campaign against the civilian population of Darfur has the necessary characteristics of genocide under the Rome statute… Today’s ruling brings us one step closer to getting justice for the many thousands of victims of Bashir’s campaign of calculated violence and destruction of livelihoods documented by PHR.”

The event began with a moving memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the genocides and mass atrocities commemorated in the month of April, Genocide Prevention Month.  Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Darfur were all remembered through personal stories, prayers and the building of a memorial in front of the White House.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian adds a copy of an Armenian passport to the memorial

Joseph Sebarenzi says a prayer before adding a rose to the memorial

Socheata, Houng and Nin Poeuv pray before adding a family photo to the memorial

Now, it is not the time to talk; it is not the time to stand by; it is the time to act.

Now it is the time to remember that the people of Darfur are fellow human beings; are God’s children.

Now is the time to remember that each of us owes the people of Darfur help in whatever ways possible.

[...]

I am here today to remind world leaders the ancient wisdom that to whom much is given, much is required; PLEASE use the power given to you to stop the genocide in Darfur!

I am here to day, to tell my fellow genocide survivors, to seek justice, and to never seek revenge;

I am here today to tell victims of violence, to overcome their sufferings, not with violence, but with peaceful means.

Photos of Dr. Jon Western and the Poeuv family by Pete Muller.  All other photos by Mark Lotwis of Save Darfur.