September 21, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1811 paying for expenses due to changing regula- IN RECOGNITION OF THE CHICAGO At the U.N. General Assembly in New York tions (limited days at sea, catch limits and ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS COL- on Tuesday, the president of Sudan claimed gear restrictions). Support industries are LEGE PREPARATORY HIGH that the genocide in Darfur is a myth propa- crucial to the survival of the fleet. And the SCHOOL survival of the fleet is crucial to the survival gated by Jewish organizations raising money of the support industries. This interdepend- for Israel. ence puts our port city in danger of losing HON. RAHM EMANUEL President Omar Hassan al-Bashir remarked not only our fishing fleet, but these busi- OF ILLINOIS that those ‘‘who made the publicity, who mobi- nesses as well. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lized the people, invariably, are Jewish organi- While we all know that money does not zations.’’ bring happiness, not being able to support Thursday, September 21, 2006 This statement is unconscionable and de- your family will take the joy out of life. Re- Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in mands a vigorous response. Such Anti-Semitic cently implemented regulations and those proud recognition of The Chicago Academy for remarks have no place in our world, let alone proposed in Framework 42 have added a new degree of insecurity to an already difficult the Arts, recently awarded this year’s Creative at the U.N. General Assembly. industry. Fishing has always been physically Ticket National Schools of Distinction Award Furthermore, the mass killings, rapes and demanding and dangerous work. from the Kennedy Center’s Alliance for the displacement of innocent civilians in Darfur are Fishermen’s wives have always worried Arts Education Network. tragically well documented. The United States about whether their husbands would return The Chicago Academy for the Arts High Holocaust Museum has issued a Genocide safely to port. But today, because of these School has served the students and families Emergency for Darfur. regulations, with each trip, groundfishermen of the city of Chicago as well as students from Today I signed a letter with several other wonder whether they will be able to provide Indiana and Wisconsin since 1981. The stu- Members of Congress demanding that Presi- for their families. dents at The Chicago Academy for the Arts dent Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan retract f have established an impressive record of aca- his baseless remarks. The letter calls on the Sudanese government to abide by the Darfur HONORING THE UNITED NATIONS demic achievement as well as artistic talent Peace Agreement and the will of the U.N. Se- INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE ranging from fine arts to acting to costume and set design. Ninety-seven percent of the curity Council. Academy’s graduates go on to top colleges A copy of this letter is reprinted below for HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA and conservatories. your information. OF CALIFORNIA Since 1981, The Chicago Academy for the In addition, I am an original co-sponsor of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Arts has served as one of five private, inde- the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act Thursday, September 21, 2006 pendent, college-preparatory arts high schools of 2006. in the United States. In addition to a traditional This legislation will ban federal contracts Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to high school curriculum, students are given in- going to corporations doing business in Sudan recognize the United Nations International Day tensive training in the fields of: Music, Visual that directly or indirectly support the genocide. of Peace. In 2002, the United Nations General Art, Dance, Theater, Musical Theater, and Countless organizations have dedicated un- Assembly declared September 21 as the per- Media Arts. Each day, students spend 5 hours told hours to stopping the carnage and human manent date for International Peace. Its pur- in academics and 3 hours in their chosen art suffering in Darfur. pose is to encourage the manifestation of the major, all of which include classes in theory, These organizations include the American vital Spirit that unifies us amid our diverse history, and technique. Jewish World Service, Amnesty International, ways. In a time where we are witness to mass The Chicago Academy for the Arts is de- International Committee of the Red Cross and violence, acts of genocide, and war, the signed to maximize each student’s potential to the NAACP. United Nations International Day of Peace communicate through the arts. The Arts Acad- The U.S. Congress must enact the Darfur draws attention to the need to implement strat- emy strives to prepare students to think criti- Accountability and Divestment Act of 2006 and egies linking development, security, human cally and independently in order to prepare join this list of international groups working to rights and peace into a cohesive framework. them to succeed in both higher education and end the genocide in Darfur. It also presents an opportunity for citizens of their chosen field in the arts. Sundown on Friday night marks the start of our country to honor the Decade for a Culture Alumni from The Chicago Academy for the the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the Jewish New of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of Arts have gone on to attend schools such as Year 5767, thus beginning a 10-day period of the World, which emphasizes the need for the the University of Chicago, Northwestern Uni- personal reflection and contemplation for Jews international community to recognize and im- versity, The Julliard School, Brandeis Univer- around the world. plement strategies to focus on and ensure as- sity, and New York University and include This is a moment in human history when the sistance for children exposed to harmful and such notables as actors John Cusack and poignant expression ‘‘Never Again’’ must be violent situations. Lara Flynn Boyle; screenwriter and director repeated over again, coupled with real action On this day when we focus on the goal of Adam Rifkin; and composer Alex Wurman as to end this tragic period of human suffering. individual and collective progress toward build- well as members of the Joffrey Ballet, New President OMAR HASSAN AL-BASHIR, ing cultures of peace, we must pause to re- York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance President of Sudan, member the tragic loss of 2,683 fallen Amer- Theater and the Radio City Music Hall Washington, DC. DEAR PRESIDENT AL-BASHIR: We were ican heroes and the estimated 48,000 civilians Rockettes. in Iraq who have lost their lives due to war shocked to hear your comments on Tuesday, Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congres- September 20th, at the U.N. General Assem- and violence. sional Arts Caucus, I believe that it is impor- bly where you stated that reports of deaths As the lone remaining superpower, America tant to support and recognize quality edu- and refugees in Darfur are ‘‘fictions,’’ and serves as a model for other nations, and it is cation in the arts. The Chicago Academy for that those ‘‘who made the publicity, who our duty to lead other nations to peace. On the Arts is a shining example of art in edu- mobilized the people, invariably, are Jewish this International Day of Peace, we must re- cation at its best. I am proud of the students, organizations.’’ flect actions our nation can take to alleviate faculty and families of the school and I wish Many of us have traveled to Darfur and seen the death, destruction, and misery of tensions and causes of conflict, such as bring- them continued success in the coming years. ing our troops home safely using an exit strat- the innocent civilians in Darfur with our f own eyes. The last 3 years of violence in egy that is executed with accountability and di- Darfur have resulted in the death of an esti- plomacy and which helps achieve harmony GENOCIDE IN DARFUR, SUDAN mated 200,000 people and millions have been among other nations. forced from their homes. This atrocity has As a proud representative of California’s SPEECH OF been encouraged and facilitated by your gov- 15th Congressional District, I am committed to HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK ernment. We are grateful that the American Jewish devoting myself and my district to building Cul- OF FLORIDA tures of Peace for the children of the world community as well as other faith commu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nities have made a priority of raising the and for future generations. My constituents Wednesday, September 20, 2006 issue of genocide in Darfur. Instead of using and I hope that the acts of peace we perform the ancient technique of making the Jewish on this day serve to strengthen the ongoing Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I recently community the scapegoat for your failures, legacy of democracy, liberty and equality with- took two actions regarding the genocide in we hope that you will take a close look at in our country. Darfur that I wanted to bring to your attention. your own actions. In direct violation of the

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