Invisible Children stresses new law to senators

The organization is asking for continued support to disarm the LRA.

By Lauren Bale

Published Oct. 1, 2010

The MU chapter of Invisible Children met with Rep. Gary Marble, D-Mo., on Tuesday to raise awareness about the newly passed LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.

The law primarily focuses on stopping Joseph Kony and preventing the violence that has plagued Africa for more than 20 years. Kony is the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, which is comprised mainly of children between the ages of 8 and 12.

President Barack Obama signed the bill in late May and has until Nov. 20 to act upon the legislation. The MU chapter of Invisible Children has made it a goal to ensure the law retains its momentum until then.

Annie Bastida co-founded the MU chapter as a freshman and has watched the group grow since its creation.

"It started out really small with 12 people and has grown into this huge organization where we have a couple hundred people at events," Bastida said.

The group recently met with Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., but Bastida said Tuesday's meeting with Marble was more successful. "The meeting was wonderful," Bastida said. "It went really, really well, much better than with McCaskill."

Although Bastida is extremely excited about the newly passed legislation, she said the group's job now is to ensure the law is not forgotten.

"We don't want it to lose momentum," Bastida said. "We went to thank him for his support and remind him about the presence of the law."

Co-president Becky Dale stressed the importance of the LRA Disarmament Act because she said all other measures for peace in Uganda have failed.

"I think that right now, as far as the situation is today, every other method that can be tried has been tried," Dale said. Dale also said the Tuesday meeting with Marble was a success.

"The meeting was fantastic," Dale said. "Gary Marble was incredibly responsive and already knew about the situation."

Dale said she hopes as the law raises more awareness, Missouri congressmen will get involved.

"I specifically want Sen. McCaskill, Sen. (Kit) Bond, and Rep. (Blaine) Luetkemeyer to become involved," she said.

The group continued to raise awareness about the efforts of Invisible Children on Tuesday night by hosting a movie screening about the life of Emmy, a boy growing up in Northern Uganda.

Bastida said she hopes the new LRA Disarmament Act will remove Kony from power and bring safety to Emmy, as well as the thousands of children like him in Africa.

"All the people in Uganda have been waiting for peace for so long," Bastida said. "All they want is peace. I think once he has been removed and the rebel army is gone, peace should be there."

Asimwe Proscovia, 19, grew up in Northern Uganda and said the efforts of Invisible Children helped her, as well as many others in her town.

"It is because of Invisible Children that Joseph moved out of Northern Uganda," Proscovia said. "Everyone in Uganda is proud of Invisible Children."