250-Students Simulate Kidnappings and Rescue in Invisible Children March in Albany

ALBANY, NY (04/24/2009)(readMedia)-- About 30 student organizers and volunteers missed their prom tonight to raise awareness of the injustices against children in northern Uganda. The Invisible Children march in downtown Albany is part of a 100-city international event and falls on the same evening of the Albany Academies' prom.

The Schools for Schools Club of The Albany Academies and the Model United Nations Organization of Siena College Saturday gathered at the Capitol to simulate the kidnapping of children in Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who are forced to become child soldiers. Tens of thousands of children as young as five years old have been taken from their families and forced to fight in this 23-year war.

Marchers were "abducted" in Washington Park and marched to East Capitol Park in groups "tied" together by ropes representing the bondage Ugandan children endure.

East Capitol Park is symbolic of the LRA displacement camp. The "the abducted" students then waited to be "rescued" by regional elected officials.

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings was one of the elected officials "rescuing" students and addressing the crowd about the important work they're doing and the impressive commitment and sacrifices they've made to draw attention to such exploitation.

Students Speak Out

"We are so outraged at the atrocities against the children of Uganda that giving up our prom night pales in comparison to the lives they lead daily," said Sarah Farber, president of the Albany Academies Schools for Schools Club, the local Invisible Children chapter, and a high school junior.

"We're here to demand attention for the plight of children abducted and forced to fight as soldiers in northern Uganda for the past two decades," said Megan Lewis, a Schools for Schools volunteer and junior at The Albany Academies. "The lack of awareness of the injustices in Uganda fuels our passion for spreading the word and creating change for children who never get to be children."

"While we're gathered in East Capitol Park, we're also writing to state and federal lawmakers asking them to actively engage in protecting Uganda's children," Farber said. "The fact that so few people know about the exploitation of these child soldiers drives us to engage our elected officials to affect change."

Schedule of Events:

3 p.m.

March begins at Moses statue, Washington Park, Albany

4 p.m. March ends/Rescue begins-Sen. Gillibrand or Representative

Elected Officials will speak and "rescue" the "abducted" children-

East Capitol Park (intersection of State, Washington and Eagle Streets)

6 p.m. -Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings

Elected Officials will speak and "rescue" the "abducted" children

East Capitol Park (intersection of State, Washington and Eagle Streets)

4-7 p.m.

"Abducted children" will be rescued; letter-writing campaign; art project.

East Capitol Park (intersection of State, Washington and Eagle)

Anticipated Participants:

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings-attendance confirmed

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin-attendance confirmed

Assemblyman Jack McEneny-attendance confirmed

Assemblyman Bob Riley-expected to attend

Assemblyman Tim Gordon-attendance confirmed

Senator Kirstin Gillibrand-representative attendance confirmed

Bethlehem Supervisor Jack Cunningham

Student Interviews Available:

Sarah Farber, president Albany Academies' Schools for Schools Club, high school junior

Megan Lewis, volunteer coordinator, Albany Academies' Schools for Schools Club, high school junior

Additional Information

Invisible Children is an organization that works to stop the kidnapping of children in Uganda. These children are kidnapped by Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and forced to become soldiers. The child soldier does everything adult soldiers do. They are trained to kill, ransack and terrorize the people of Uganda. This march and rescue is a peaceful vigil organized by the Albany Academies Schools for Schools Club and the Siena College Model United Nations organization.

www.invisiblechildren.com