Gun violence is a national issue that impacts tens of thousands of Americans each year. Each day 88 people lose their lives to firearms in the United States, and countless other lives are permanently and irrevocably altered. The causes of this epidemic of violence are complex, but there are organizations working around the clock to bring it to an end.
Category Archives: Amnesty Members
VICTORY: You Took a Stand. Now Moses Akatugba Will Walk Free!
Over the last year, activists like you have taken more than 800,000 actions in support of Moses Akatugba, who was imprisoned in Nigeria at 16 years old, tortured, and later sentenced to death on suspicion of armed robbery — a crime he says he didn’t commit.
For months, Amnesty International activists have been campaigning on Moses’s case, including writing letters, participating in demonstrations and sending online messages on Moses’s case as part of Amnesty International’s Stop Torture Campaign and 2014 Write for Rights action.
Yesterday, Amnesty activists put renewed pressure on Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governor of Delta State, to free Moses before the governor’s term ends today. We learned yesterday afternoon that Moses was granted a full pardon.
The Roar of A Thousand Activists
By Ann Burroughs, Amnesty International USA board chair, and Steven W. Hawkins, Amnesty International USA executive director
Last week, over 1,100 human rights activists gathered in Brooklyn, New York. What for? Amnesty International USA’s Annual General Meeting, appropriately themed this year “From Moment to Movement.” Braving rain and snow, people who have been members for decades –perhaps having joined as a result of the Human Rights Concerts of the 1980s—joined with those new to Amnesty– together reflecting on the spark of change that can begin in an instant and reverberate for years.
So that’s the ‘what’ – but why? What happens when you gather this powerhouse of activism in one place for one weekend? The answers say a lot about what it means to turn a moment into a movement.
Cesar Chavez: A Birthday Gift
By Jesús Canchola Sánchez
Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. My grandmother is a year younger than him. She was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. Cesar Chavez and my abuela (grandmother), Beatriz Soto, are a part of me. Their experiences, successes, and faults have constructed my identity in the United States. Without their stories, I wouldn’t have my voice. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Jasmine at the AGM: Campaigner for Individuals at Risk
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Jasmine Heiss
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Senior Campaigner, Individuals at Risk Program
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Strategize, power-map, and creatively deconstruct injustice
- Build project-plans, relationships and coalitions
- Influence private and public actors to defend and uphold human rights
- Work directly with my human rights heroes
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I grew up in Northern Michigan in a house run off of solar and wind with gravity-fed (COLD!) water, and intensely idealistic parents. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Larry at the AGM: Community Organizer and Young Leader Fellow
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Larry Fellows III
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Young Leader Fellow
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Work on both the Member Engagement & Field Organizing teams
- Focus on showing young people how to organize in their communities dealing with civil and human rights
- Uplift the voices of those that have been silenced
- Educate people on Amnesty International does
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I’m from St. Louis, so I was involved with the movement in Ferguson surrounding Mike Brown. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Noor at the AGM: Field Organizer
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Noor Mir
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Associate Field Organizer
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Move people to act
- Inspire youth to take empowerment into their own hands
- Build coalitions of human rights activists
- Challenge power at the source
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I was born and raised in Islamabad, Pakistan to a family that had been at the forefront of political struggles and independence movements from the British Empire. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Sunil at the AGM: Managing Director of Major Gifts
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Sunil Oommen
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Managing Director of Major Gifts
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Help raise funds to keep Amnesty’s work going strong
- Support a team of amazing professionals to raise as much money as possible for Amnesty and help them become even stronger leaders for the movement
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I got here due to a lot of hard work – the proverbial blood, sweat and tears! SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Sara at the AGM: Direct Response Coordinator
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Sara Golden
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Direct Response Coordinator
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Get copy and design approved for our direct mail packages
- Lead the coordination of marketing and sales management and execution of programs for Direct Response and special projects.
- Assist in the development and implementation of annual Direct Response plans and programs.
- Liaise with cross functioning staff to communicate deadlines and plans effectively and consistently.
- Act as a source of information for the Direct Response and Development offices.
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I began at Amnesty as the Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs in 2012. Previously I worked as an HR consultant at UNICEF and held several internships at NGOs during my time in graduate school. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST
Meet Anupriya at the AGM: Digital Campaign Strategist
Leading up to our 2015 human rights conference in Brooklyn, NY, March 20-22, we are highlighting six Amnesty International USA staff members and moments in their life that have helped build their career in the human rights movement! Read all six in our “Meet me at the AGM” blog series.
NAME: Anupriya Ghate
I WORK FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AS: Digital Campaign Strategist
IN THAT ROLE I:
- Manage, create and drive human rights activism on Facebook, Twitter & other online platforms
- Do a lot of graphic design work to create resources and visually captivating graphics to maximize impact
- Create online resources and web content to support staff and activists
HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
I started working for Amnesty International USA right after I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. I joined the organization as an intern and later applied for and was hired as the Individuals at Risk team, Campaigns Associate. SEE THE REST OF THIS POST