Six years ago today, Nate Henn and 75 others were killed in a terror bombing in Kampala, Uganda while watching the final match of the 2010 World Cup.
We remember Nate today because he was a part of our Invisible Children family. As a roadie, Nate traveled the U.S. speaking at colleges, high schools, churches, anywhere, about the atrocities that Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) continue to commit. Nate had worked with us for a year and a half, without pay, and without seeing first-hand the land or people whose stories he shared with thousands.
In the months before his death, Nate traveled throughout New England with a young man from Northern Uganda named Innocent as part of a roadie team. The two developed a bond stronger than the borders and cultural barriers they were crossing. They were brothers, from across the globe, connected by their commonalities as humans pursuing peace and justice.
In July of 2010, Nate made his dream of visiting Innocent in his home country come true. Barely a week after arriving in Uganda, with Innocent by his side, Nate was killed.
Today, six years after Nate’s death, our world still suffers from injustice and violence like that which took him from us. This year, in particular, feels bleak and painful. As stories of devastation and violence continue to flood our newsfeeds and our headlines, it is hard to believe in the kind of connections that brought Nate and Innocent together.
But it is in these moments of darkness that remembering and following the footsteps of people like Nate is so important. These times set the stage for us to choose bravery and kindness and justice. Within our pain and mourning immediately following Nate’s death, those of us at Invisible Children found strength of purpose and a new immediacy to pursue peace. And today, in the wake of tragedies that seem to be all around us, we find that purpose and drive once again.
Blessed are the peacemakers. Those, like Nate, who do not become overcome by sorrow or anger or apathy, but who stand together, with their brothers and sisters around them, and create paths for peace and justice. In times of pain and injustice, we will always find them — and we will strive to be them.
You can help us honor Nate’s legacy and continue to build those paths of peace by clicking here.
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