On April 20 there will be a global effort to make the world aware of Joseph Kony.
Kony is the leader of a central African rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). For more than 20 years his group has abducted children to fight on his behalf, made sexual slaves of others, and has encouraged mutilation.
What is important about the films made by a man trying to stop Kony and bring him to justice is how the message has gone viral.
Perhaps for the first time, policymakers are listening to their constituents about why their countries should try and stop Kony. They are listening and acting in favor of arresting Kony despite the fact that there is no political or economic reason for doing such.
They are being pressured by many because it is the right thing to do.
This movement to address the plight of the “invisible children” began with a filmmaker who shows the life of his young son and compares it to the life of Jacob, a boy who was displaced because of the LRA and whose brother was killed by them.
The filmmaker shows dozens of homeless children sleeping in crowded conditions and how, if they were American children, that would be big news. He doesn’t think where or when a person is born should determine whether he or she enjoys basic human rights.
It is expected that hundreds or thousands of people around the world will blanket their towns and cities with Kony 2012 posters at sundown on Friday, April 20. The aim of the effort, called “Cover the Night,” is to make Kony “famous,” to shed light on the atrocities he has committed.
The first film about Kony can be found here. The second one can be found here.
Murphy can be reached at: [email protected]
