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Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins writes about Anchorage city government and politics. He covered last year's campaign for governor, and has blogged extensively about Alaska politics for the past year. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the Daily News before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune two years ago to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Now he's back in Anchorage. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau this summer, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Die-in for Darfur

Posted by Wesley Loy

Posted: March 19, 2008 - 1:58 pm

Symbolic Darfur genocide victims at a noontime street rally at the Capitol. Wesley Loy photo

From Wesley Loy in Juneau –

Supporters of legislation to force state pension and Alaska Permanent Fund managers to dump stocks of companies doing business in war-torn Sudan today staged a “die-in” on 4th Street in front of the Capitol.

More than 100 people assembled to demand the funds divest as a way to fight genocidal kills in Sudan’s Darfur region.

A dozen people stretched out on the street as symbolic genocide victims.

Several lawmakers attended the rally including Anchorage Democratic Rep. Les Gara and Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, prime sponsors of House Bill 287

I didn’t see either “die,” however, on the snowy, wet street.

The protesters demanded the state’s public fund managers get rid of Sudan-involved stocks, calling investment profits from such companies “blood money.”

“We’re here today to express our outrage, our total outrage,” Lynn told the crowd. He acknowledged, however, that HB 287 is unlikely to pass this session.

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9 March 27, 2008 - 2:11pm |

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8 March 20, 2008 - 12:52pm | Emperor

Socially Conscious Investing

"I think it’s a discussion worth having, but I think we need to discuss the topic of “Socially Conscious Investing ” of the Permanent Fund, not just this one set of businesses doing business in Sudan."

Emperor Rants

March 26, 2008 - 1:45am | spill_milk

Isn't that what 20 yo's do?

It seems like it was the college students that were doing that just before some universities and etcetera, convinced people that South Africa was deserving sanctions and boycotts.

But everyone knows that 20 y.o. Alaskans just get the heck out if they have any witz about themselves.

7 March 20, 2008 - 10:32am | hardenbrook

"Whatever you have done to the least of these...

You have done unto me."

I'm pretty sure that Jesus didn't mean for his words to apply solely to Americans. I think he gave his life for the folks in Darfur, too.

If we think that our elected leaders should govern according to principles and not profit margins, maybe we should ask that public funds not be invested in companies making a profit off the genocide in Darfur - a genocide recognized as such by President Bush and former Sec. of State and General Colin Powell.

Additionally, the sophomoric criticisms leveled against the folks who participated ought to be beneath anyone who values the rights enumerated in our Declaration of Independence. The founding principles of our country were "all men (not just Americans!) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

If we are to live up to these ideals, surely we can do better than to hurl petty criticisms at a group of our fellow citizens merely seeking some way to help guarantee these universal rights for our fellow men.

Surely these ideals and values are worth more than a yearly check from the state.

March 20, 2008 - 10:46am | akmooster

of course they are...

but there is no need to screw up an investment group with politics. If it is legal and looks to make a good return, invest.
On the other hand, if all you lefties want to do something about this real problem. Get off your cushy butts and go over there and do something. Lying down in juneau means absolutely nothing. Screwing with the pfd means absolutely nothing. Get a gun and go over there and protect people.
No? why not? is it easier to just throw paint on memorials?
If Jesus were here, he'd shake his head at you.

March 25, 2008 - 10:29am | wutskaan

I know..

Lets mix up a cauldron of different subject matter, suggest unrealistic solutions, and pepper it with self righteous diatribe, wrap it in a Jesus tortilla, so we don't have to to think of our own misgivings, and shortcomings. We'll call our meal Loadocrap.

March 20, 2008 - 11:07am | hardenbrook

Jesus on violence:

"Put away your sword." Said to one of his followers after he attacked a Roman soldier trying to arrest him. Sounds a lot like civil disobedience to me... I'm not sure how he'd view your "get a gun" proposal.

Also, my parents sold their house and quit their jobs to move to Sudan to be missionaries. I'd also like to note that they weren't planning to take guns to protect people, they were planning to love them, walk with them and help them.

Please don't try to taint my views in the ideals of this country by automatically associating me with those who vandalized the Veteran's Memorial. After all, I didn't compare you to the folks who continued to invest in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

March 22, 2008 - 4:47pm | akmooster

we invested in lost lives to stop the holocaust...

there is a big difference between that and laying down on a street in juneau.
You should be very proud of your parents for doing what their hearts told them they had to. Missionaries will not stop the killing, but are an important part to the fix.
But that is what they did, what are you doing, laying down in a street?

6 March 19, 2008 - 7:17pm | Syrin

noontime street rally

Wanted:
....For a Symbolic Darfur genocide victims at a noontime street rally at the Capitol. Bring your own balloons.

Anybody who can pretend to be dead

Anybody who doesn't have to work

Anybody who stands for anything

Anybody who can travel anywhere

Anybody

No "sleep in" protestors please!
Please consider.... Much of the effectiveness depends on the posture of the protesters, for when not properly executed, the protest might look more like a "sleep-in".

5 March 19, 2008 - 4:49pm | Black3

The Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVE) people.

I could make a list of about a hundred people in Juneau, give them all an old-fashioned Blue Ticket on the ferry, and there'd never be another demonstration in front of the Capitol Building.

March 19, 2008 - 4:53pm | akmooster

hahha...

at least one of them stood by their juneau roots in dying with his/her sta tuffs on.

March 20, 2008 - 8:59am | Black3

Only a certain segment of the JNU

population wears ExtraTuffs when they're not working in the yard, clamming, or some such. It's almost as good a clue as to their political leanings as the Little Red Book peeking out of their pocket.

March 21, 2008 - 2:00pm | barracos_pizza

You are cryptic

Extratuffs- Little red book- tide books red this year?

Some people in Juneau actually do work, you know.

4 March 19, 2008 - 4:02pm | akmooster

the pfd folks....

should invest in any legal place they think will bring a good return and not be hamstrung by feel good / feel bad folks.
If you turn the pfd into a green only / warm and fuzzy only fund, you can kiss half your check good-bye.
If these folks want to do something about darfur, get a gun and go help them out, anyone can lay down in the street.

March 19, 2008 - 4:09pm | rfn

Or at least have the

kindness to demand divestment when the stock market is UP.

Why, oh, why do they always wait until it is down.

Oh, wait! Many of them are not Alaska Residents and want to see PFD checks reduced.

3 March 19, 2008 - 4:01pm | TheSdog

BYOSH

Hey stags, stumpy made it very clear he did not care about Darfur investments when we talked about it.

Oh, the fun I could have had writing about this 20 years ago.

1 March 19, 2008 - 3:15pm | meagancfoster

Thanks

Kudos to all of the amazing supporters who braved the rain/snow to make a strong statement.