BRIDGEVILLE, Del. — U.S. Senator Chris Coons hosted a video chat via Skype with students at Phillis Wheatley Middle School on Monday morning after students at the school wrote him letters about their concerns over the crimes against humanity committed in Africa by Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA has terrorized Uganda and much of central Africa for more than 25 years.
More than 30 students gathered in eighth-grade teacher Allen Pepper's social studies classroom for the chat, which the Senator led from his Wilmington office before heading to Washington to preside over the Senate this afternoon.
"It’s rare to have so many young people so concerned about a humanitarian issue abroad, and it’s important that we encourage them to stay involved,” Senator Coons said. “After seeing the Kony 2012 video, many young Delawareans were understandably concerned. They don’t like the idea that kids their own age are being brainwashed and forced to commit heinous crimes, and they want to help. I enjoyed reading their letters and hope they’ll stay engaged.”
Senator Coons began the 30-minute chat by responding to specific questions and concerns raised in the students’ letters to him. Students then asked additional questions about the Kony 2012 video and U.S. efforts to support Kony’s capture.
"I'm grateful to Mr. Pepper, Mr. Joseph, Principal Tunstall, and the staff at Phillis Wheatley Middle School who made the chat possible," Senator Coons said. "This was a fun way to connect with students and let them know that this issue that is important to them is important to me, too."
Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs. To help engage students on the issue, he put together a resource kit with more information. That kit can be found online here: http://coons.senate.gov/kony/.
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