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Between the days of March 19th and 24th, the Allderdice branch of Amnesty International USA and STAND planned such events as a screening of the film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” and a signature Amnesty letter writing campaign. The 2003 documentary tells the story of children in displacement camps and child soldiers in Acholiland, a war-torn region in Northern Uganda. Filmed and distributed by Invisible Children Inc., a nonprofit organization established by the three college students responsible for “Invisible Children,” the documentary shows the struggle faced by thousands of children barely surviving in displacement camps in the poverty-stricken African country. Obliged to become soldiers if kidnapped by rebel forces, children often make the decision to walk miles in pursuit of temporary safety from abduction, and “Invisible Children” details the consequences of such actions. Amnesty also used the week to promote involvement in the forthcoming “Displace Me” event on April 28th. At the night-long rally to spread awareness of the lives of the Acholi people, participants will be given the opportunity to demonstrate solidarity with the suffering population. The event will begin on Saturday the 28th around noon and carry over until the morning of the 29th. In 2006, Invisible Children Inc. hosted the predecessor of “Displace Me”, the “Global Night Commute.” A worldwide event, over 58,000 people signed up to spend the night traveling to and sleeping in parks in 130 cities throughout seven countries. The event was meant to simulate the plight of “night commuters” in Northern Uganda, young children who walk long distances to cities from displacement camps. The children make such treks daily in search of safety from the Lord’s Resistance Army, a potent rebel group that has threatened the country and its people in a twenty-year conflict to expel the government. Similar to “Global Night Commute,” “Displace Me” will involve tens of thousands of participants traveling to registered parks in support of displaced Ugandans. However, unlike its precursor, “Displace Me” will take place solely in the United States, and only fifteen cities will host the night-long event in order to concentrate the demonstration and increase visibility. One member of Amnesty International Pittsburgh as well as the Allderdice chapter, junior Jon Williams, explained the decision to offer viewings of “Invisible Children” to the school. |
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Movie poster of film “Invisible Children”. |
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Amnesty alerts 'Dice to Invisible Children's plight |
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By Christa Pluff |
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The Allderdice Foreword An Award Wining Publication |