First, we gathered in Ah-Nab Awen Park, on the banks of the Grand River. There, we waited as more and more people showed up. We were probably some 400 strong when we marched out of there.
From the park, we walked together about a mile through downtown Grand Rapids, joined together in groups holding onto ropes, to signify how these children are forcefully led out of town once abducted.
We ended at Rosa Parks Circle, where fortunately, we only had to wait for about an hour and a half before one of our "moguls", Hank Meijer (part of the family that owns your favorite grocery store), showed up, read the creed of Invisible Children aloud over the public address system, and "rescued" us.
This is us, being joyous.
We were just the 2nd city in the United States to be rescued. Some to this hour still have not been. Some of the Grand Rapids people jumped in cars and joined the "Rescue Riders" to Chicago, where they still await a rescue. Those of us who remained had a few things left to do before we could deem our site a success. We donated $5 per person (which adds up!), we got the local media involved (TV 3 from Grand Rapids covered the walk), some of us signed up to deliver our message to Washington DC in June (more on that later), and we were asked to write two letters each to our senators, letting them know that we want these children who have been abducted to be brought home!
Here's our photo on the wall, with our faces circled and labeled as being "abducted!"
Though Grand Rapids was rescued rather early in the evening, some decided to stay the night anyway, to prove a point to the community, to let them know that they were not going home until every city was "rescued".
Teresa was cute as always, even when soaked through to the bone and shivering. She was a trooper, and I was proud of her for dealing with my "save the world" stuff. I think she's really getting into this cause. You can thank Koji for that. He's got that way of showing you the meaning behind something. I can't get enough now. Anyway, Teresa's cute...
And I'm not...
So I'm home now, having gone back to work today. I'm torn. I almost got in the car tonight and drove to Harrisburg, where Koji's at, holding it down, waiting still to be rescued, after 48 hours. I talked to him for about 40 minutes on the way home from Grand Rapids tonight, and he's got such a calm about him. He's not worried that his troops are wearing thin. He's got about 40 people left in Harrisburg, including some Rescue Riders from Boston and New York City. He says that his senators that they've targeted for moguls will be coming to the Capitol building tomorrow (where they are camped out) for another important issue, and he's hoping that they'll "rescue" the group of haggard folks on the front steps before going about their business for the day. He's so proud of his group, and I almost envy that he got the opportunity to struggle.
Don't get me wrong, it sucked walking through the rain. My feet are still messed up. And we suffered. I don't think it's about suffering though, this time around. It's about coming together, and we in Grand Rapids were there for such a short time, there really wasn't time for camaraderie. We did get the attention of the media, complete our goals, and were a part of the bigger picture. But Andrew, in his way, is leading the way out there in Harrisburg. To him, it's not a race to see who can have the most Twitter comments. He really wants to see political change. Harrisburg could have been considered "rescued", as one of the Wainwright family (think music) came and gave a speech. But those in Harrisburg, rallied by Koji and his supporters, decided that only a politician on their original list could truly "rescue" his crew. And so they sit, as one, waiting for help to come.
And as soon as they are, they're jumping in cars and heading for cities that don't have quite the same resolve. Baltimore at last check was down to just 3 people. Huntington, WV has similar issues. I very well may meet Koji and his team in Huntington tomorrow, to help bring awareness to what's going on.
For those of you that I've spoken with, that don't understand what's going on, or are upset because you wanted to help, you still can! There are still 11 cities remaining to be rescued. The only way that will happen is if the public, at large, cries out for the moguls in those cities to get to the rescue sites. Chicago, Harrisburg, Huntington, Baltimore, Spokane, Charleston, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Austin, and Wichita remain.
To follow what's happening, and find out more (and possibly give support), log onto the Invisible Children's Rescue website at http://nightof.therescue.invisiblechildren.com.
To watch the video that gives the whole thing perspective, go here. http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/en/#/watch/
Please give it some time. I don't write all of this because I want you to see me doing it. I'm writing it all, doing it all, because I believe I can help, and because I believe that I can use my position to get some of you aware, and involved. That's the only way that this horrible war in Uganda is ever going to end.
Take some of your precious time (and I know, it's precious these days), and give it a look. That's all I ask. Thanks for reading.
