Just as many citizens vehemently protested in the streets in the 1960s against the Vietnam War, several University of Central Oklahoma students are protesting the decision made by a U.S. senator about an African war.

Activists marched from Oklahoma’s Capitol until they reached the Chase Tower, near 100 N. Broadway downtown, where Oklahoma’s U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn’s OKC office is located.

On a sidewalk lined with a few sleeping bags, protestors were lying down in protest until a meeting with Coburn could be arranged.

Danielle St. John is just one of UCO’s student protesters.

“I got a call from Invisible Children telling about the protest,” St. John said. “I spent the night Friday, Saturday and Sunday [Feb. 26, 27 and 28 respectively] but I had to come back for classes and work.”

The protest has become known as the “Oklahoma Hold Out.”

It was initiated by Resolve Uganda, an organization that is trying to bring peace to northern Uganda.

Resolve Uganda is protesting in an effort to persuade Coburn to pass the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act 2009.

The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act 2009 was created in an effort to get the U.S. to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate threats posed by LRA.

The effort includes demobilization and a strategy to stabilize the region.

It also authorizes the president to deliver necessary resources for humanitarian relief.

This includes monetary support for African regions affected by the LRA, such as Uganda, Congo and Sudan. This does not necessarily involve military.

The bill also calls on the U.S. government to work with Uganda’s government to reintegrate citizens, such as child soldiers, who were forced into war.

For 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel militia group, and the government of Uganda have been at war with each other.

This conflict has become known as Africa’s longest-running war.

Millions of citizens have been displaced due to the war. Also, the LAR militia group has kidnapped children and forced them to become soldiers through indoctrination.

Despite its attempts, the Uganda government has not been able to protect its citizens, and nearly 90 percent of the population has been displaced.

Many of Uganda citizens have been separated from their families.

Some have even witnessed the death of their family members at the hands of the LRA.

“This is something I am really passionate about.

This war needs to end, and this bill is going to help that,” St. John said.

“We are very determined to get this bill passed. This is something bigger than our comfort. If we have to sacrifice our comfort to give Uganda a chance to recover, it is completely worth it.”

Proponents for the Uganda bill are saying all Senate members have voted to pass the bill except Coburn.

“I think … Coburn is very stubborn, but we are too,” St. John said. “Our determination will show him how important it is to us, and I think that will change his mind.”

According to Coburn’s spokesperson, John Hart, the bill is currently in a House of Representative’s committee.

“The House of Representatives has not even passed this bill out of committee,” Hart said

The bill in the House is HR 2478. If the bill has not yet passed the committee, it has not been to the floor to be voted on.

In the Senate, the bill is a step further and has been titled S. 1067.

At this time, the bill has enough support to pass Senate if it reaches the floor for vote. Since the Senate operates on “unanimous consent agreements,” all senators must agree. Coburn has exercised his privilege to hold a bill, because the bill would authorized the spending of new funds.

The same bill is being supported by Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe.

With signs reading “Help rescue Joseph Kony’s Child Soldiers” and “Dr. Koburn please say yes,” protestors are planning to camp outside of Chase Tower until Coburn responds.

“It has been really cold some days, especially on Monday,” St. John said. “I had to wear … four layers – two layers of pants, two pairs of socks, and two pairs of gloves. It was still cold.

“There have been many people donating clothes and blankets, and it has really helped! We have also been keeping each other warm,” she said.

“The mood has been very positive. Very friendly, not much complaining or anything,” St.
John said. “I think … the protest will continue.”

According to one of Coburn’s staff members, it is not necessarily the bill that is causing concern, rather the funding it would take to enforce the bill if it is signed into law.

“Dr. Coburn does not object to the purpose of this bill but believes it should be paid for by reducing spending elsewhere,” Hart said.

“When Oklahoma families want to buy something, they budget, prioritize and make hard choices. Dr. Coburn makes no apologies for trying to force Washington to do the same,” Hart said.

“Dr. Coburn, and many economists, believes our national debt is now a national security issue. If we continue to borrow and spend beyond our means, we won’t have the economic or military power to influence events in Uganda, or anywhere else,” he said.

“He applauds these citizens for their activism and concern,” Hart said. “He simply believes worthy causes should be paid for.

‘The Senate Appropriations Committee has said there is no way this bill will be funded this year even if Dr. Coburn lifts his hold,” Hart said.

According to GovTrack.us, an organization that tracks bills in Congress, passing the bill into law would cost “less than $1 per American over the 2010-2014 period.”

Coburn’s spokesperson said the bill could be passed by other government officials without Coburn’s vote.

“President Obama could implement the policy in this bill today through the State Department,” Hart said.

“Likewise, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could put this bill on the Senate floor today and try to override Dr. Coburn’s objection.”

“The majority leader has not done so because he does not consider this bill to be a priority,” he said. “His priority is to help engineer a government takeover of our health care system.

“If this special interest group wants to have an impact, they would have more success splitting their time between the White House and the Majority Leader’s Office, although they are certainly welcome to stay in Oklahoma as long as they wish,” Hart said.

As of Sunday, people have been protesting for more than 200 hours. Students like St. John will continue to protest alongside activists.

“I am going back. I plan on participating whenever I can,” St. John said. “This is bigger than us, and we have a lot of hope.”
Activists have also begun a petition online at http://www.coburnsayyes.com. The goal was to get 10,000 Americans to sign the online petition.

Currently, 11,697 individuals and counting have signed a petition established to persuade Coburn to allow the legislation to pass.