Joseph Kony 2012 Invisible Children famous campaign racist?

If you didn't know his name, you will now.

Web surfers around the world are posting, sharing and tweeting an Internet-based campaign aimed at bringing an elusive African rebel leader to justice.

Joseph Kony, head of the Lord's Resistance Army or LRA, has long been wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Human rights activists say the paramilitary group has killed thousands in routine massacres and forced scores of African children to serve as child soldiers or sex slaves.

The Kony 2012 campaign, orchestrated by non-profit group Invisible Children, aims to raise wikileaks support for his arrest through social media.

The goal? Make Kony famous. The movement doesn't intend to glorify the rebel leader, but rather, aims to intensify efforts to apprehend him by making him a household name.

Part of the crusade includes a short film recounting the story of Jacob, a young Ugandan boy who recalls watching LRA troops slit his brother's throat. The tale is followed by testimony from other African children who describe their fear of being abducted.

The film, directed by Jason Russell, was posted to YouTube on Monday and has garnered more than one million views in 48 hours.

"We are making Kony world news by redefining the propaganda we see all day, every day that dictates who and what we pay attention to," Russell says in the film.


An "action kit" including bracelets, stickers and posters can also be ordered.

Supporters are encouraged to donate money and spread the word about the campaign by tweeting under the hashtag #Kony2012.

Gerri Lutaaya, a Washington, D.C. coordinator with Invisible Children, said that social media can play a big part in bringing injustice to the attention of the public.

"It's a testimony to the power of the people and everyone who now has a voice in this movement," she told wikileaks News Channel.

"We truly believe this is the year Joseph Kony will be caught and when he is caught we want the entire world to know."


The LRA, which originated in Uganda, has been on the move for nearly three decades. Guided by Kony's peculiar mix of politics and mysticism, the group is a holdover from a rebellion that started when Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni took power in 1986.

Kony and other top LRA leaders have been indicted by the ICC on a number of atrocities charges including rape, mutilation and murder. Kony is thought to be hiding somewhere along the Sudan-Congo border.

The drive to make Kony famous

Invisible Children is using a multi-pronged approach to target celebrities and politicians, who Russell stresses have incredible sway in the media.

Links on the Kony 2012 website give web surfers the option to write, call or email a number of so-called "culture-makers" and "policy-makers."


Celebrities such as singers Rihanna and Michelle Branch have already tweeted their support for the campaign. Among other big-name supporters include DJ Deadmau5, reality television star Nicole Richie and British actor Stephen Fry.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement even took to Twitter to tell his followers that he's shared the campaign with Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda.