Simon Deng

A South Sudanese-American human rights activist and author, Simon Deng initiated his impactful advocacy against slavery in Sudan in 1993, later sharing his powerful personal story of enslavement to raise global awareness starting in 1998. This direct approach culminated in the launch of the monumental Sudan Freedom Walk in March 2006. The impactful 300-mile trek, spanning from New York City to Washington, D.C., directly campaigned for an end to slavery and genocide in Sudan, leading to a significant meeting at the White House with President Bush that same year. Expanding his international advocacy, Deng subsequently organized a European iteration of the Walk in 2006, leading participants from Brussels to The Hague to urge the International Criminal Court to prosecute the then-president of Sudan for war crimes.

In 2012, he extended his international work, visiting Israel to speak out against the proposed deportations of South Sudanese asylum seekers. His unwavering commitment to direct action was again evident in 2015 when he staged a highly visible 45-day hunger strike outside the White House, drawing national attention to critical human rights issues. Most recently, in December 2023, Deng led a significant solidarity walk from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, aiming to express profound support for Israel and drawing parallels between the historical struggles of the Jewish people and the South Sudanese against jihadist aggression.