The vigil — one of scores planned across the United States and internationally as part of "Global Day for Darfur to End Genocide" — is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the state Capitol. Mark Hanis, founder and executive director of Genocide Intervention Network, will speak at the event. Music will be by Johnny Shot & Leionani.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million made refugees in Darfur since 2003, when ethnically African rebels rose up against the Arab-dominated central government, according to a United Nations report. Retaliation has reportedly involved arming local nomadic Arab tribes and unleashing militias known as the janjaweed on civilian populations — a charge the government denies. The conflict has now spilled over into neighboring Chad and Central African Republic.