If you watched the Democratic and Republican presidential debates televised this week on CNN, you may have been concerned to see that the television coverage was sponsored by Fidelity Investments. Although Fidelity took a positive step when it recently sold a substantial amount of its PetroChina and Sinopec shares, Fidelity continues to have massive holdings in these two worst offending companies that help to fund the genocide in Darfur. Additionally, Fidelity has made no commitment to avoid further investments in these problem stocks.

Many of the presidential candidates have been increasingly vocal, both during and prior to the debates, about their commitment to helping end the genocide. Some, including Senator Brownback, Senator Edwards, Mayor Giuliani and Senator Obama, have taken important steps to divest their personal investments in companies that help to support the genocide.

Given the concern expressed by the presidential candidates regarding the crisis in Darfur, their association with a debate sponsored by Fidelity, a company whose investments help fund the genocide, is an issue for many voters. This association was widely reported in newspapers across the country and around the world:

We ask you to call or email one or more of the presidential candidates today and let them know that you noticed this connection to Fidelity. Specifically, please ask the following of the candidates:
  • Personally divest (if they haven’t already) from companies and investment firms with holdings that help to fund the genocide in Darfur.
  • Refuse campaign contributions from companies and investment firms with holdings that help to fund the genocide.
  • Decline to participate in any events or debates sponsored by companies or investment firms with holdings in companies that help to fund genocide.
  • Publicly commit to each of the above three actions.
Every individual, especially those in a leadership position, has a personal responsibility to avoid any situation in which they directly or indirectly enable the government of Sudan to continue its genocidal campaign against the people of Darfur.

We expect those who aspire to the highest public office in our country to not only condemn the genocide, but to support effective action to stop it and disassociate themselves from all those connected to the genocide. Please join us in telling the presidential candidates how Americans feel about this important issue.

Contact information for the presidential candidates is listed below.

Thanks for making a difference.

    The FidelityOutOfSudan Team

Democratic

Joseph Biden - http://www.joebiden.com/footerlinks?id=0001
Hillary Clinton - http://www.hillaryclinton.com/help/contact/
Christopher Dodd - http://www.chrisdodd.com/contact
John Edwards - http://johnedwards.com/about/contact/form/
Mike Gravel - http://www.gravel2008.us/contact
Dennis Kucinich - http://kucinich.us/contact
Barack Obama - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/contact/
Bill Richardson - http://action.richardsonforpresident.com/page/content/contactus/

Republican
Sam Brownback - http://www.brownback.com/s/Contact/tabid/108/Default.aspx
Jim Gilmore - http://www.gilmoreforpresident.com/contact.php
Rudy Giuliani - http://www.joinrudy2008.com/contact.html
Mike Huckabee - http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.ContactUs
Duncan Hunter - http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=3
John McCain - http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/
Ron Paul - http://www.ronpaul2008.com/contact/
Mitt Romney - http://www.mittromney.com/ContactUs
Tom Tancredo - http://www.teamtancredo.com/tancredo_state_index.asp
Fred Thompson - http://www.imwithfred.com/contact.aspx
Tommy Thompson - http://www.tommy2008.com/Contact_Us.aspx