Minutes for April 2022 meeting

20 April 2022

AIUSA Group 342 meeting (via Zoom)

In attendance: Jeff, Barbara, Bob, Heather, Bill, Tilo, Marsha

REPORTS [5 minutes each]

• Treasurer’s report [Tilo]
• no change (about $1042 in bank, $200 in cash)
• Social Media Director’s Report [Barbara]
• will send out via e-mail the link to our group address list so everyone can update/add their contact info
• no longer buying ads on FB, now using patch (Malvern, Tredyffrin, West Chester)
• Group 342 Coordinator’s Report [Jeff]: no report
• Amnesty News [Barbara]
• April is Global Volunteer Month: AIUSA thanks all volunteers
• AI statement on Ukraine
• [BOB] Fomusoh Ivo Feh, Afuh Nivelle Nfor, and Azah Levis Gob freed at end of 2021 (had been in jail since Nov 2016) (further info here)

GUN VIOLENCE REPORT [Bob]

• April 26:Advocacy Day: go to Harrisburg to petition state reps (further info here)
• HR 748 (Ethan’s Law) calling for federal legislation to address safe storage of firearm
• April 11: Biden established new ATF rule regarding ghost guns
• Note this is NOT A BAN; it requires the use of registered serial numbers so weapons used in crimes can be traced
• Biden has nominated US Attorney Steve Dettelbach to lead ATf (agency has had no director in 7 years) 

FREE PEOPLE FROM ICE DETENTION [Bill]

• Biden administration finally giving Cameroon Temporary Protected Status (further info here)
• Actions: sign up to lobby Congress, ask for end to Title 42, tell Biden to protect all people seeking safety

ACTIONS

• "Uyghur Teenage Girl and Mother Detained" (Saudi Arabia: UA 27.22)
• "Woman's Execution Would Violate International Law" (USA 29.22) [NOTE: SEND ASAP!]
• "Two Qatari Lawyers Arbitrarily Detained" (Qatar UA 30.22)
• "Activist Defending Safe Abortion Risks Jail" (Poland 28.22)
• "Investigate Violations Against Raped Activist" (Morocco / Western Sahara UA 33.21)

FILM REVIEW [Barbara]

"The State of Texas vs Melissa": Documentary by Sabrina Van Tassel about the trial and death sentence of Melissa Lucio for the death of her daughter. Melissa Lucio was the first Hispanic woman sentenced to death in Texas. For ten years she has been awaiting her fate and now faces her last appeal. Her date of execution has been set for April 27, 2022  [see related urgent action above]

(Streaming on multiple sites/channels)

NEXT MEETING (online): 18 May, 7:30 p.m.