NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Hundreds March For Peace in Darfur

Hundreds March For Peace in Darfur

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Darfur region of Sudan in Africa is the scene of one of the bloodiest conflicts in the world. In Nashville Sunday, hundreds of people marched for peace in that region.

More than two million people have been forced to flee Darfur because of the violence there. Hundreds of thousands have died. It's a struggle that has gotten the attention of many, including country music star Big Kenny.

"Its a genocide. It's the worst humanitarian crisis on our globe today," said Big Kenny.

The crisis in war-torn Darfur is big enough for Big Kenny to get involved.

"People have to know what's going on. Children's lives are at stake. It's time to wake up," he continued.

Earlier this year, the country music star visited Darfur, but at home Big Kenny found that many weren't even aware of the situation.

"I've been dreaming for the day Nashville would start stepping up and taking on a bigger role, and now it's happening," said Big Kenny.

About 200 people came out Sunday for a march to raise awareness of the bloodshed in Darfur, and to call for China, the host of the 2008 Olympics and trade partner of Sudan, to help bring peace to the region.

The crisis in Sudan hits home for Amr Ali.

"I lived there for eleven years, and I came here when I was 13 to the United States as a political refugee," said Ali.

The fighting that Amr escaped as a child is still going on. Experts estimate more than 200,000 people have died in Darfur over the past three years.

"It saddens me, and it makes me angry to tell you the truth because its unfair, unjust and it is murder on a great scale," said Ali.

Nashville is actually one of 20 cities taking part in the Dream for Darfur Olympic Torch relay. Also, the United Nations is currently working on a plan to bring peacekeeping troops into the war torn region.