With Frisbee discs flying, students dancing to pop music and a guest appearance from “Jackass’” Steve-O, the mood on ASU’s Student Recreation Complex fields on Saturday was anything but somber.

Still, the event that brought more than 750 people together was not a celebration but a global cry for help sponsored by Invisible Children, an organization that spreads awareness about the plight of child soldiers in northern Uganda.

“We make that connection between that kid in northern Uganda and you,” said Tyler Fordham, a graphic designer with Invisible Children. “You’re no different. Your life isn’t any more important than their life, and that’s what we’re trying to tell people.”

On Saturday, people in 100 cities worldwide “abducted” themselves to raise awareness of the thousands of northern Ugandan children that have been taken and used as soldiers in rebel leader Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army.

Participants brought sleeping bags, tents and tarps and pledged to camp out until a political or public figure “rescued” them by making a statement on behalf of the abducted children in Uganda.

“People don’t know about this,” said Talitha Baker, the tour booking coordinator for Invisible Children. “We need to get political support, we need to get financial support and we need to get the people of influence to get on stage and also support this cause. So it’s more than just about awareness, it’s about getting people who can make a difference on board.”

Political science and pre-law sophomore Ada Lacevic, who was a refugee in Bosnia before coming to the U.S. in 1995, said she believes awareness is the first step in achieving change.

“I think there is a certain group of people who are aware of the situation,” Lacevic said. “But I think the average American and average citizen doesn’t know what’s going on, or isn’t interested or thinks that there’s nothing people can do to help. So the first thing that has to happen is we have to get educated on the topic.”

For the hundreds of people at ASU’s Saturday event, there were opportunities to do just that, including pamphlets detailing the crisis and a projector showing updates from around the world.

After sitting on the field for about 4 1/2 hours, liberation came at the hands of MTV daredevil Steve-O, who issued a statement and set the “abductees” free at 8:30 p.m.

“It was an easy decision to make to get behind [the cause] because it’s really a matter of protesting against children getting abducted and being forced to act violently,” said Steve-O, whose real name is Steve Glover. “Regardless of how much you know about the politics of northern Uganda, it’s wrong.”

Steve-O said his interest in African issues was piqued when he took a trip to Rwanda to film “Wild Boys.”

He said he was horrified to see how little the rest of the world seemed to know or care about the issues abroad.

When the offer came to become a rescuer with Invisible Children, Steve-O said, with a little research, the decision was quickly made.

“Whenever there’s a conflict, there’s usually two or three sides to it or maybe more,” Steve-O said. “But with the [Ugandan rebel army], it’s really a pretty straightforward issue.”

Steve-O said he was happy to take part in the rally.

“I like to consider myself a pretty ignorant white kid that would love to see the world be a better place,” Steve-O said.

Reach the reporter at carly.mcelroy@asu.edu.