What an amazing night. Sleeping under the stars with 5,000 other people in Balboa Park, San Diego. Can you imagine what that would be like? If you can't and didn't go, I'll tell you as much as I can.
My parents didn't want me to go, afterall I'm 17-year-old female(yes for some reason, if my brother wanted to go it would have been fine...), going with friends, in a place overnight, with 5,000 other people, without supervision, coed, all ages, and it took place downtown. Somehow, for one reason or another, I convinced them to let me go. Who knows when I would have another chance to be a part of something so moving? The experience was unlike any other. People of all ages gathered together across the nation and in other countries to show our governments that we care about these "invisible children". We care about the 30,000-50,000 children already abducted and forced to take part in a rebel army. We care about the 130 people who die every day just from violence. We care about the 1.7 million people forcibly displaced. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should.
I felt that even if I wouldn't understand completely what the tens of thousands of children in Northern Uganda experience every night, I could do it for one night and imagine what it would be like to do that every night. So I packed my things (sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, art supplies, pens, snacks, water, etc.) and walked to my high school. From my high school I met up with a couple of other people, then we walked to a trolley station, from there we went to three different trolley stations, and voila, we were a few blocks away from our destination. We get there, stand in line, sign petitions and liability contracts, and get admissions bracelet.
Then the fun begun. It was absoultely moving to witness first hand, how many different people were brought together in the name of one cause. We all got our bags unloaded, and sat down in the grass to begin our tasks. We were to write two letters (one to President Bush, and another to our Senator), after, we were to make a statement in art with an attachment of our picture. When that was done, we sat in the grass and enjoyed the company of others. It was around nine o'clock when all 5,000 of us gathered together by a tree so that someone could take photographs.
It was an amazing night. I've been a part of quite a few protests, but this one felt like it's impact was really going to be felt. 59,000 + people all around the country came out to support these invisible children. I was there, were you?
I want to thank all who participated. . . My name is ryan POOH and I was on the east coast traveling team for invisible children. You all made it possible!! and I love you for that!! keep on marching soldiers the war is not over. Although lately there have been some peace talks in Uganda - so keep up the prayers and keep on the website to watch out for the next big tour and when it comes through your town. www.invisiblechildren.com love ya pooh
I was there in Chico, CA. It was really great because we all met at a common place downtown and walked the whole 4.5 miles to our destination. We had a huge line of about 500 people. It was great. Lots of mosquitoes, but worth it by far.
I was in Philly, Pa. It was amazing! There was even a political conference happening in the building next to Independence Park (where we were sleeping!) Way to make a difference guys!!!!!
NSZ
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nicolezolnoski
I wanted to go to one so bad! one of my friends at a christian college went with all of our friends and he said it was simply amazing. My best friend and I came accross their website a few months ago and have been searching for one in our area... none to be found yet. and even so it would be in down town detroit, and my mother would NEVER allow such a thing.
i'm amazed at all of this. i did gnc in franklin, tn. saturday was our prom night so we left prom early to walk...about 500 of us to join with the previous 2500+ already there. it was incredible.
i'm amazed at all of this. i did gnc in franklin, tn. saturday was our prom night so we left prom early to walk...about 500 of us to join with the previous 2500+ already there. it was incredible.
I am impressed that you cut your prom night short to participate...You sound like someone who will make the right choices :-)
I watched Oprah's coverage about the invisible children and that there were going to be walks and sleep-overs but I was not able to participate so I didn't find out where the closest one was to me. I am impressed with how many people showed up.
Oh man I REALLY wanted to go to the one in Harrisburg, PA...and I was gonna go, my mom said it was fine, but my dad found out and wouldn't let me go because (like the girl who wrote this article) I am a 17 year old girl, and it is "unsafe" but my dad admitted if i was a boy i probably would have been allowed to go. grrr
One of my friends called me from it and she told me she was having a lot of fun...
haha...yeah, trust me, it took a LOT of convincing.
------------------------
Amor est vitae essentia.
Well darn! I didn't read anything about it in the newspaper, I wasn't aware that it was going on! I live in Omaha, Nebraska so I"m going to have to look up where it was held closest to me. That's absolutely amazing, it must have been a really neat experience. Thank you for cluing me in on this wonderful project!
-Mary-
I went in Portland Oregon. We had at least 1300 people.
I was at the GNC in San Diego too! We sold glow bracelets for $1 each and ended up raising $300 for IC in like 20 minutes! We donated all the money to the people in charge and they were stoked. It was sooo much fun! I can't believe that 3 guys walked from Greenfield Drive all the way to the park. Took em 6 hours...and one of them did it barefoot! Crazy!
There were a bunch of kids from a college in our city that walked from their campus to the park where we stayed. They walked like ten miles, i think, and it took them like five hours. a lot of them walked barefoot.
i didn't think about it until we were already walking, but it was a wonderful way to connect to the kids. awesome about selling the bracelets for money!
I was too apart of the San Diego movement.
I've never felt so alive.
It was so safe and I was able to talk to total strangers about life.
People were playing guitar, singing, dancing, clapping.
And even a man from Uganda commuted with us and told his many stories about his childhood.
We walked a total of 6 miles which took us almost 2 hours.
It was phenominal. People even went without seeing the DVD and have a total different aspect about the way America functions and how much we really support other worlds.
I thank every one for participating and I am so glad I was able to be apart of this movement.
Just about 400 in Providence, RI...and SO awesome! It was so great that people actually came!
I seriously hope we can help end this war!
I participated in Spokane, WA. It was the greatest night of my life, despite the huge storm that showered down the whole night. It really opened my eyes to what these kids experiance every single day. I walked almost 8 miles in two hours. I was tired and sweaty. I don't know how these kids can do it. I don't want them to have to endure that anymore. We need to stop this imediately. I'm glad I participated. And to anyone who didn't do it, you really missed out.
I was there in Grand Rapids - a little chilly but about 1500 people pulled through and stayed the night
i was in charge of the gnc in eugene oregon. it was the most amazing night of my life. there are no words to describe it. ESPECIALLY since i have no voice now. ahhh.
but anywho. we had around 200 people come to ours.
and it was incredible
loves!!!!!
Wow. that is really awesome! I love doing things like that! They are so informative and really stick with you! Good job, I will make sure to catch the next one.
Michelle
UI undergraduate
Focus: philosophy, biology, education
I really wish I could have gone, but life intervened. its so great that you all went. its really encouraging to see people doing something!
I live in Omaha Nebraksa so we don't really have large scale events like that but I wish we did. That's awesome that you are involved!
I did GNC in Dallas...it was really amazing. I've never felt that I've made that much of a difference. I want to hug every single one of those kids after that. I was cold, wet (we were on a ballfield and the sprinklers went off!!! ...I equated that with rain), and incredible uncomfortable. For one night. With food in my stomach, my friends all around me, and a pillow and sleeping bag. I want to meet them all.
Hey, my family (husband and 2 of our 5 kids) did the GNC last night in Seattle! There was well over 1000 people there and it was c-c-cold! My kids stayed toasty warm, but I froze!
It was fantastic. All you have said and more. I started a blog to log our family's involvement with IC. We aren't planning on stopping here. We are just getting started!
www.invisible-children.blogspot.com
Julie Paine
Marysville, WA
Hey! Sounds like the San Diego GNC was a blast! I can't imagine that many people! I went to the one in Knoxville, Tennessee, and we had around 450 people. It was amazing. Some of the students from a school in the city walked over 10 miles! I walked with a group of about 200, and we probably walked between 2 & 2.5 miles. It took us just over an hour. Even though it rained on us, pretty heavily at some points, we camped under a bridge out of the rain. It was incredible!
Yup yup, the film makers are pretty cool guys. They came to my school last year =). I'm so glad all of you were there doing the same thing, just somewhere else, haha. Yeah, there was close to 85,000 people nation wide, + all the people from the other countries. =D I love the feeling of helping out and being a part of something larger than myself.
Amor est vitae essentia.
I helped organize the event in Birmingham. We had over 130 people come out. We walked about 1.5 miles to our location and then spent the night writing letters to President Bush and our senators. It was an amazing event. Thanks to all who participated!
Good job guys,Iam so proudofall that participated. I did not know until earlier today, but now I do.:)
*NeSsA*
HEY!!!I was part of the movement and this was my very first protest! It was close to my heart cos I am an African myself and I felt blessed to be part of those who try to bring a change in these children's lives. I was part of the movement in PITTSBURGH and during the walk people kept asking what was going on! I was pleased by the interest and I know we had an impact! now nobody can use the excuse that "I DID NOT KNOW" cos it was all over the news! and is still on. Did anyone go to DC today?I wish I could have gone.
i did the commute in LA...i agree...it was astounding.....and we had one of the film makers there and he stood up and gave us a speech and told us that there were something like 80,000 people doing GNC that night....simply amazing
That sounds amazing, i wish i could have been a part of it. I think more people should get involved with these types of things.