Minutes for March 2024 meeting

AIUSA Group 342 meeting

20 March 2024 (hybrid)
In attendance (in person): Barbara, Bob, David, Heather, Marsha

In attendance (via Zoom): Shreya, Struan, Dorothy

GREETINGS AND CHECK-IN

AREA COORDINATOR REPORT (David)

• At AGM (March 2024) there was a presentation about AIUSA's strategy for 2024 U.S. elections
• We cannot said anything in Amnesty's name about any candidates
• Top goal is to mobilize people to vote as if human rights depend on it
• Counter harmful narratives (especially negative news about the U.S./Mexico border)
• Prepare for and try to prevent crises
• Build our movement to exert more influence on the next administration and Congress
• At AGM: no presentations by former prisoners of conscience (which was a longtime tradition at AGM)
• Regional meetings will return next fall
• "Get on the Bus" campaign scheduled for April 5 (gotb.org)
• Local groups are struggling: Group 112 in Philly is dormant, may try to form coalition with PADP and Ethical Society 

OTHER AGM REPORTS (Barbara and Bob)

• Barbara: attended session on Gaza
• Bob: attended session on local groups (we now have the ability to send e-mail to AIUSA members in our area!); attended session on top issues for young people (reproductive rights, gun violence, climate change)

CASE FILES (Barbara)

• On April 16 Barbara will attend a meeting about restarting case files
• Dorothy expressed interest in being in charge of prisoner of conscience case for our group

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION (Bob)

• Shootings at SEPTA facilities in Philly
• "Zero Eyes" program to use AI to detects guns in subways
• May 7: Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy Day in Harrisburg
• morning: constituents visit their representatives
• afternoon: speeches on the capitol steps
• Report on Lewiston, ME, shooting from October 2023: the shooter's guns should have been seized earlier, but police did not do so

GOOD NEWS (Barbara)

• Greece legalized same-sex marriage
• In Saudi Arabia, Amazon must pay $1.9m to workers because of a major Amnesty report about deception and treatment of migrant workers there
• France enshrined abortion rights in its constitution
• Victories on past actions
• Human rights defended Bishop Don Luis Fernando Lisboa transferred to safety in Brail (Mozambique: UA 132.20)
• Human rights defender Munther Amira released (Isreal/Occupied Palestinian Territories: UA 2.24)
• Four of five families freed from detention (USA: UA 116.20)

NOWRUZ ACTION

(Thanks to Barbara and Bob for bringing mailing supplies and printouts about this year's cases!)

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 15 May, 7:30 pm (hybrid)