More than 25 students and community members came together last night to shed a little light along the Allen Street gates.

The Penn State Amnesty International, along with Rescue Child held International Day of Action on Sudan, a vigil to raise awareness of the ongoing conflicts in Darfur, Sudan.

Conflicts in Sudan began in February 2003, when armed opposition groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement rebelled in response to the Sudanese government's disregard for the villages' protection.

The Sudanese government responded to the opposition groups with Janjawid, a militia force. The Sudanese government and Janjawid are responsible for the mass killings, rapes, tortures and arrests of innocent Sudanese civilians.

According to an Amnesty International fact sheet, about 200,000 civilians have sought refuge in Chad because of Janjawid, and more than 50,000 lives have been lost since February 2003.

Angeliki Vgontzas, co-coordinator of Penn State Amnesty International, said the organization adopted the idea from The United Nations International Day of Peace.

The U.N. formed the International Day of Peace in 2001 as a global initiative to raise the awareness of peace and nonviolence in a 24-hour vigil of prayers and spiritual observation each year on Sept. 21.

Vgontzas said the crisis in Sudan is ongoing and awareness of the issue cannot be spread in one day. However, the International Day of Action on Sudan seeks to motivate people to take action.

"When you pick one day, it kind of motivates you to do something," Angeliki said.

During the International Day of Action on Sudan vigil, members of the organizations and passers-by formed a circle and reflected on the ongoing situation in Sudan.

Candles and pictures of victims in Sudan were placed along the sidewalk. Participants held a brief moment of silence for the lives lost and sang, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

Participants also signed a petition addressed to the president of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan to share their concern of the conflicts.

Ashley Baker, co-coordinator of Penn State Amnesty International, said displaying pictures of Sudanese victims gave a deeper meaning to the vigil.

"We wanted to put a name and face behind the numbers," she said.

Michael Gore (senior-secondary education and English), member of Penn State Amnesty International, said the purpose of the vigil was to encourage the community and the United States to get involved.

"As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we should be trying to help," he said.

Brendan McCall (senior-English and women's studies), also a participant at the vigil, said he was taken aback by the massive amount of people being killed.

"It's astronomical. It's daunting," he said.

Vicky Killion, co-coordinator of Rescue Childhood said the organization was asked by Penn State Amnesty International to participate.

She said that from the Rescue Childhood perspective, there are many concerns for the several Sudanese children involved.

"Children are getting wrapped up in the crisis," Killion said.

She also said the United States should get involved and recognize these international issues as genocide. Killion added that students should contact their congressman about the issue.

Siddharth Mohan (graduate-electrical engineering) and Ridham Shah (graduate-electrical student) said they noticed the candles from the vigil as they were waiting for the bus and wanted to see what was going on.

After learning about the International Day of Action on Sudan, they decided to sign the petition.