Congolese Independence Day celebrated in Scranton

(WBRE/WYOU) — Sunday is Congolese Independence Day, and some members of the Democratic Republic of Congo community who now call Scranton home gathered together on Courthouse Square in Downtown Scranton to celebrate.

They also wanted to use this opportunity to spread awareness of what is going on back in their country and those who are refugees around the world.

History comes alive in West Pittston's First to Fall event

"With a rush for these strategic minerals that are being mined there and I think in Scranton's history you saw kid and all sorts of problems happening in the mines and deaths. That's exactly what's happening in eastern Congo right now because of the rush not only for gold and diamond but also strategic minerals like tungsten and cobalt," said Congolese Committee of Scranton President Ushu Mukelo.

He hopes his message will reach the White House.