Coming to their rescue

In a country consumed by materialism and prosperity, it's hard to find passionate individuals dedicated to social justice, human rights and peace.

However, this weekend I abandoned my home, lifestyle and comforts to stand alongside thousands of young people to abduct ourselves Saturday afternoon and wait as long as it takes for rescuing.

The Rescue is a world-wide organized protest to help raise awareness of the abduction of children in Northern Uganda and forceful participation in Joseph Kony's rebel armies, namely the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel army consisting of 90 percent abducted children.

The event was hosted by Invisible Children, a media-based nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating the injustices of children in Africa.

The Rescue took place in 100 cities around the world and was designed to gain the attention of media, celebrities, politicians and persons of influence. Until that attention was brought, we remained abducted. Rescue only happens if one of these media 'Moguls' attends the event and speaks on behalf of the cause.

The Rescue began with a peace march around the premises, or 'LRA Camp,' in each city. "We aren't just marching on city hall," saidAshley Williams, 22, "we're marching the world."

The march is followed by setting up camp, writing letters to senators and media, rallying for the cause on the street and trying to recruit a mogul.

The Orange County Fair Grounds became home to 3,000 young people dedicated to march for the cause.

Inspirational words and cheers were shouted by a number of the 'abducted,' sparking a fire in everyone's heart.

"This is a huge sacrifice for young people," said Jeffrey Hupp, sociology major. "That's the point, that's the message."

It was hard not to adopt the cause as my own. After being abducted for six-and-a-half hours, we were rescued in OC by popular band Paramore. It was time to help our brothers and sisters waiting to be rescued in Los Angeles.

At the LA event, Kristen Bell, Ben McKenzie and Tom Arnold came to the rescue early on, even marching with the abducted.

By 9 p.m., Bell announced the official rescue while Jason Russell, one of the three original founders of IC loaded a bus full of radical activists, the 'Rescue Riders,' to travel to the remaining 12 cities un-rescued.

It was impressive to see the passion in the young generation, flocking to the open bus door to help support those still abducted. It took all of my might to not jump on the bus, myself but we had our own 'Rescue Riders' experience yet to come. At 11 p.m.,Andrew Pahl, 22, received a phone call from the bus announcing that San Luis Obispo needed help. Pahl took a survey of people around him and loaded a car, explaining his passion.

"These kids are being forced to murder and kill, no one should be forced to do that," Pahl said. "When does it end?"

With these words of enthusiasm ringing in my ears, I jumped in the car, happy to be in tow with the passionate activists. We arrived in San Luis Obispo at 4 a.m. Sunday and were shocked to find only 100 people littering Santa Rosa Park, a drastic decline to the thousands in OC and LA. It was clear they needed help.

After 11 hours of endless phone calls, letters, street rallying and pooling our resources, a mogul arrived. Nate Henry, lead singer of the band Sherwood, heard of the hundred abducted in San Luis Obispo and left the recording studio in Studio City to come to the rescue; we were elated. This weekend revealed the injustices in Africa and the hearts of the future generations.

Humanitarianism is not a trend or passing fad for the dedicated young people camping out in cold parks, on hard concrete floors and around cramped lawns of city halls.

IC planned the protest in 100 cities but it was the powerful message of abducted children that created the rescue. As of today, Chicago and Richmond remain 'un-rescued.'

The call is for the 'Rescue Riders' to join the abducted still in Chicago, tomorrow and demand to be rescued by Barack Obama or Oprah Winfrey. Many people consider these young people crazy or radical. The abducted simply see themselves as answering a call.

"If not me," Hupp asked, "then who?"