‘Gathering of Tents of Hope’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The “Gathering of the Tents” at the National Mall here on Nov. 7-9 is a call to compassion and action. The tents will create an extraordinary refugee camp in the U.S. capital to express solidarity with the people of Darfur.

The Gathering of the Tents will offer a simple message: Bringing an end to genocide begins with the awareness that every human being is sacred and part of one human family.

Bringing an end to genocide begins with the awareness that every human being is sacred and part of one human family.

On the same weekend as the Gathering of the Tents, hundreds of communities across the country will hold local events as part of the “Interfaith Weekend of Prayer and Action for Sudan.” For more information about worship and advocacy materials related to the Interfaith Weekend of Prayer, contact Rabbi Or Rose at ORose@hebrewcollege.edu.

Sponsors of the Gathering of Tents ask you to come to Washington, D.C., or organize an event on Nov. 7-9 in your community so the message will be heard loud and clear by the president-elect and new Congress.

Action more urgent every day

“Every day, our call to compassion and action becomes more urgent,” said Tim Nonn, Tents of Hope National Coordinator. “On Aug. 25, the Sudanese military killed or wounded over 100 men, women and children in the Kalma displaced persons camp.”

Nonn cited an article in wrote in the Wall Street Journal by Eric Reeves and Mia Farrow that asked: “How is it that those who have been tasked with protecting the world's most vulnerable population have failed — and failed, and then failed yet again — in their central responsibility?”

Over the past year, Tents of Hope has grown to over 330 cities in 45 states, and it is still growing, according to Nonn. “We are deeply inspired by your creativity and compassion for the people of Darfur,” he said. “We also are inspired by the Darfuri people who must overcome unimaginable hardships every day to survive. I am certain that our efforts will inspire thousands more people when we come together in events across the country on Nov. 7-9.

Event details posted on Web

The program for the Gathering of the Tents is posted at www.tentsofhope.org. Nonn said it will be updated regularly as additional speakers, performers and events are added.

The event will include hundreds of uniquely painted tents along with workshops and panel discussions, music, performances and activities.

Speakers include the Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, Brian Steidle and Abraham Nhial.

Performers include Catie Curtis, Berklee College of Music, Johnny Irion and Sarah Lee Guthrie.

Save Darfur Coalition and STAND are holding concurrent conferences for activists and students on the same weekend at a location near the National Mall.

For assistance with registration, attendance or tent shipment, contact the Rev. Amber Neuroth, Tents of Hope D.C. Coordinator, at or call (202) 470-3226.

You can register online for the Gathering of the Tents.

Nonn said that after the event, many tents will be sent to Sudan. “We are working with Darfur Peace and Development Organization to ship the tents to Sudan. He said the tents will be loaded into an overseas shipping container.

If you have questions about sending your tent to Washington DC or Sudan, contact Bev Hoffman, Tents of Hope Outreach Director.

“We, along with thousands of other concerned citizens, belong to a movement of compassion that is lifting up the voices of the people of Darfur and loudly proclaiming that no matter who we are or where we live all of us belong to one human family,” Nonn said.

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Not On Our Watch Christian Companion

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society’s Director of Civil and Human Rights Bill Mefford is co-author of The Not On Our Watch Christian Companion (paperback, $7.50). Mefford and co-author Greg Leffel provide biblical reflections on the movement to end genocide in Darfur and beyond. The Companion connects churches, fellowships, and individual Christians to the global movement to end genocide in Darfur and other crimes against humanity in Africa.

The Companion expands on New York Times bestseller Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond by Don Cheadle, Academy Award-winning actor for “Hotel Rwanda,” and Africa expert John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project. The authors of the Not on Our Watch Christian Companion are participating in an eight-week toll-free national conference call discussion series about the situation. Information about the book and the conference calls is available at www.darfurchristianaction.org.