joining us now is gregory iii, patriarch of the damascus-based catholic church. you have spoken out against a regime change in syria saying that they need peaceful evolution, not revolution. what do you have in mind. >> the problem is syria is very complex because it has the influence on lebanon and syria, for jordan, palestine, israel. we need to seek other ways for revolution, evolution, and start a dialogue between all parties involved inside syria and also outside from the west and east. i am here in europe for a special personal private messenger of peace. would like to see europe providing another look of solving the problems and not just saying to go home. i would like to hear other voices in europe. >> the problem in syria with the ongoing violence, did the -- it seems like the assaad regime is not open to dialogue. how you propose this? >> starting in march last year, in april and sell one,-- so one, , and have been appealing vote for dialogue from all parties. some people answered positively. now is kofi anaan willing to be there? the same for england.

i was there with george clooney, but also with martin luther king iii, with dib gregory, rabbi davidrange of folks committed to ensuring whatever we can to get the food through. >> i understand the message. what was the conversation? i mean, i have to imagine -- i understand people were warning you multiple people. it was secret service who eventually took you in. were you willing to be arrested? >> yes umplgts what kind of conversation did you have in anticipation of that moment? ijts yeah, we -- we plan these things. the reality is civil disobedience is something that requires a certain amount of discipline. we came here today knowing we would be locked up and there would be a point in the protest when that would happen, but we thought it was critical, there were a whole bunch of folks involved in the protest outside the south after kaj offices in washington, d.c. years ago. the reality is that this struggle is at that crisis point, where people say it's time to do whatever we have to do to get the world to focus. i think what's at the back of folks' head is quite frankly when we s

martin luther king the iii, the president of the naacp, nicole lee, president of transafrica forum, fay williams, chair of the national congress of black women, activist dick gregory, rabbis david sapperstein and steve gahough. and ian schwab with the american jewish world service. we had a simple message. let food and humanitarian aid reach the suffering people of blue nile. stop raping, killing, and bombing innocent women, children, and men. i commend the obama administration for pressuring khartoum to let food reach these desperate people. more must be done. i urge the president to engage china to also demand unfettered access for human aaron aid. madam speaker, the world must increase the pressure on president bashir or watch another crime against humanity take place in sudan. we must not be silent. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the lady from california, ms. speier, for five minutes. 7 -- ms. speier: thank you, madam speaker. i rise again today to highlight the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. this is the 17th time that i stood here on the house floor to tell the story of a brave member of our military