Sep 26, 2008 -- Approximately 30 Yeshiva University students made up the largest student contingent at a protest against China’s ongoing arms sales to the Sudanese government outside the Chinese Mission to the United Nations on Sept. 24. The students were members of YU’s Social Justice Society and the YU chapter of STAND, a student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network. They joined the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) in the nationwide protest that took place at venues in Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Shlomit Cohen, president of YU’s Social Justice Society, addressed the crowd. “I stand here today representing Yeshiva University and students worldwide who continue to fight on behalf of justice and peace,” said Cohen, a native of St. Louis, Miss. “We will not remain silent while the Chinese government supports the genocidal policies of the Sudanese government.” Cohen said it was important for Jews especially to speak up. “As we enter the High Holidays, we must not forget to extend our compassion and scope of concern to the world at large,” she said. The goal of the protest was to highlight China’s continued sale of arms to Sudan and call for an expanded U.N. arms embargo to stop the flow of arms to the Sudanese government. Notable speakers at the event included Ruth Messinger, president of AJWS; Motasim Adam, founder of the Darfur People’s Association of New York; and Reverend Herbert Daughtry, founder and president of the National Religious Leaders of African Ancestry.