It has now been more than 100 hours since a team of young U.S. activists, inspired to help stop the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa, descended on the Oklahoma City office of Senator Tom Coburn (R) to demand that he lift his hold on a bill aimed at neutralizing the LRA fighters and rebuilding communities long terrorized by the insurgency.
The legislation – The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S. 1067) – currently has enough support to easily pass through the Senate. In fact, it has more co-sponsors than any bill related to sub-Saharan Africa since 1973. But a lone senator has been able to stop the bill from going to a vote. Unless Senator Coburn budges, his move effectively kills the Senate bill.
His constituents were not pleased with this decision, a sentiment shared by the masses of activists across the United States who campaigned passionately over the past year to convince their members of Congress to support the LRA bill.
Enough partner Resolve Uganda is leading the charge in Oklahoma, and both Resolve and Invisible Children are providing frequent updates and photos on their blogs. The website set up for this campaign – Dr. No, Please Say Yes – features a live feed from the streets of the Oklahoma capital.
Enough’s John Prendergast recorded this video message to commend the activists in downtown Oklahoma City for their dedication: