On Friday 25th June, 2004 a small but effective demonstration was held against the mass murder, burning of homes, raping of women and burning of children that the government of Sudan is carrying out in Darfur on the Black African population of the south. The demonstration was attended by a broad coalition of Sudanese groups, both Arab and Black and there was a strong women's contingent. Some of the other groups present were the British-based Uhuru, a network of women living under Sharia law and the African Liberation Support Campaign.

The demonstration began outside the Sudan Embassy. A letter was delivered inside and there were speeches and chanting: 'stop raping women in Darfur' , 'stop stealing food from children in Darfur' , 'an African life is worth as much as any other' and 'under attack! fight back!'. There were about 30-40 demonstrators. The demonstration then moved on to the Foreign Office where a letter was delivered demanding that more be done by the British government to stop the violence in Darfur.

Along the way to the Nigerian Embassy, the march passed a demonstration by Ethiopian groups outside Downing Street who were protesting about the state violence of the Ethiopian government. Information leaflets were exchanged and solidarity expressed. A letter was delivered to the Nigerian Embassy asking the Nigerian government to use its influence to put pressure on the government of Sudan to end the killing and an official actually came out of the embassy and crossed the road to fetch it. He also spoke on the PA. People chanted 'no more blood for oil' and 'no more African blood for oil'.

The next stop was South Africa House. One demonstrator commented that we have now come full circle back to South Africa House to protest once more. Demonstrators shouted 'stop selling arms' and 'stop selling arms that kill other innocent Africans'. An official came to the door to collect a letter asking that South Africa and the African Union do more to stop the violence in Darfur.

The final destination was the BBC World Service at Bush House, to protest about the poor coverage of the atrocities in Sudan and the general under-reporting of Africa by the BBC and all the mainstream media. Technicians came out and recorded the chanting protestors and interviewed key organisers of the demonstration.

The demonstration moved through busy streets of London during lunchtime and attracted a lot of interest from tourists and workers. The public know that the mainstream media are very selective in their news coverage and there is a desire to be informed and engage with what is happening in the world and that was reflected in the positive response from bystanders.

The next demonstration will be held on Wednesday 28th July at 1.00pm, outside the Sudan Embassy at 3 Cleveland Row (off Pall Mall and next to St James's Palace). Please support the people of Darfur. The only way to conquer the murderous people in power in the world is by standing together and not being divided.

A luta continua!