Today, in the Darfur region of Sudan, the 21st century’s first genocide continues unabated. The Sudanese government has been implicated in the ongoing atrocity and is responsible for the senseless slaughter of over 400,000 men, women and children as well as the displacement of over 2,000,000 refugees. The systematic ethnic cleansing policy is being orchestrated by the government of Sudan and aided by its armed militia, the Janjaweed.
Many foreign companies operate in Sudan – directly and indirectly aiding the government in carrying out attacks against its own people. Right here in the U.S., the pension funds of many states, cities and universities are substantial financial investors of these foreign companies. In an effort to change the behavior and practices of these companies, a nationwide divestment campaign is underway to dissuade pension funds from facilitating genocide.
In 2007, a national organization, the Sudan Divestment Task Force, retained the services of The Patriot Group to implement a legislative advocacy and public awareness campaign in Texas with the main objective of passing model divestment legislation through the Texas Legislature. Currently, over 30 states in the US have either pending legislation, or have passed bills calling for targeted divestment in Sudan.
The “Stop the Darfur Genocide Act”, SB 247, was carried in the Texas Senate by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D – Houston) and Sen. Florence Shapiro (R – Plano). Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale (R – Houston) sponsored the bill in the Texas House of Representatives. The legislation called on Texas’ two largest pension funds to divest their holdings in companies doing business with the Sudanese government. The financial impact of the legislation was significant – approximately $500 million in pension fund investments were subject to divestment.
To pass the legislation, The Patriot Group developed a bipartisan approach to the legislative effort – carefully crafting a coalition of progressive liberals with social conservatives and faith-based organizations. The unique partnership was a rare display of collaboration for the greater good. Observers to the process remarked on the unusual alliance, saying “political foes temporarily set aside their partisan differences and found common ground for this historic effort. They put down their swords and picked up their plowshares. Texas has rarely seen this kind of political collaboration.”
In addition to legislative advocacy and lobbying support, a statewide grassroots adjunct called “Texans of Faith United for Darfur,” was created to give voice to religious leaders who wanted to speak out on the issue and contact their elected officials.
The atrocities in Darfur generated significant coverage in Texas media outlets. With the launch of a legislative advocacy and public awareness campaign, every major newspaper outlet in Texas editorialized in support of the legislation and helped raise public awareness of the issue. In addition, numerous opinion editorials authored by Darfur activists and supportive legislators were printed and circulated. Television and radio stations across the state covered key developments in the process from kick-off press conferences to legislative committee hearings.
The unique alliance of supporters, coupled with overwhelming media coverage, led to a crescendo of public awareness and legislative support. SB 247 unanimously passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature and the bill was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 21st at the Holocaust Museum in Houston.