Fight the Genocide

Marilyn King
The State News
Published: January 30, 2008

While many groups worldwide are putting forth effort to help the crisis in Darfur, the Spartans for Progressive Divestment are taking it a step further locally.

Three members of the group knocked on doors at the Capitol on Wednesday to create awareness about Michigan tax money going to companies that help fund local mercenaries in Darfur.

Two bills being considered by the Michigan Legislature are trying to take Michigan taxpayers’ money out of Darfur.

Tom Choske, an international relations and German senior and the group’s president, led the lobbying effort to make lawmakers aware of the bills.

“We’re really pushing to get this legislation through,” Choske said.

Choske worked on Darfur legislation this summer while aiding Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, one of the bills’ sponsors.

“It seemed like a great idea,” Choske said. “But it just kept sitting there.”

The legislation was modified in meetings with groups such as the Michigan Department of Treasury, and concerned Darfur activists met with state officials to have the bills tailored specifically to Michigan.

Representatives who have been working on bills to stop tax dollars from aiding genocide in Darfur helped put together a hearing on the bills at a town hall meeting in Detroit.

“We wanted to kind of publicize what has been going on in Darfur,” said Kim Bowman, Clarke’s chief of staff. “Some people just don’t know.”

Bowman said she supports the bills that would stop tax dollars from going to Darfur.

“I think it’s important that we don’t invest our money, Michigan taxpayer dollars, in anything that could be perpetuating genocide,” Bowman said.

Choske has been working with Senate staffers such as Bowman to get the message across.

“It’s important the lawmakers know,” Bowman said. Choske said his group plans to continue advocating these bills in hopes that they will be passed.

“It’s a very worthwhile cause,” said Jeff Lakin, the group’s vice president. “It’s a fantastic organization and you couldn’t be doing it for much of a better cause.”