Minutes for May 2022 meeting

 18 May 2022

AIUSA Group 342 meeting (via Zoom)

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

REPORTS [5 minutes each]

• Treasurer’s report [Tilo]: no change
• Social Media Director’s Report [Barbara]
• currently using free posts on FB, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Patch
• Barbara raised the question of paying Wix (about $100/yr) to have our own URL; Tilo and Marsha don't think it's worth the expense
• 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
• Jeff and Bob drove together, met Tom Buglio there
• met with Dianne Herrin (PA House District 156)
• various speakers, including some relatives of young people who died violent deaths (MOMS—Mothers of Murdered Sons) and Governor Wolf, criticized legislature for not taking up gun violence laws in past three years
• upcoming event: “Wear Orange” (Bob is looking for more info)
• Bill: there are lots of groups—do they work together?
• Bob: yes! (two big national groups are Everytown USA  and Moms Demand Action)

FREE PEOPLE FROM ICE DETENTION [Bill]

• Latest stats from https://www.amnestyusa.org/campaigns/freethemnow/
• 20,033 PEOPLE DETAINED BY ICE as of 3/31/22
• 134 ICE DETENTION FACILITIES As of 4/4/22
• CONGRESS PASSED A FUNDING BILL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 THAT:
• Gives DHS $23 billion to fuel its ICE/CBP detention and deportation machine
• Allows 34,000 people to be locked up in ICE detention
• Includes $10 million for ICE’s so-called “alternatives to detention” that still restrict, surveil, and harm immigrants, and have NOT resulted in fewer people detained
• unequal treatment of asylum seekers evident in US government positive response to Ukrainian refugees

ABORTION RIGHTS [Barbara]

• AI Statement: "Access to Abortion Is a Human Right"
• Amnesty International USA Statement in Response to US Senate Vote on Women’s Health Protection Act, May 11, 2022 Abortion Advocacy Training (via Zoom) on May 23: register
• Abortion Advocacy Training (via Zoom) on May 23: register here
• Monthly Membership call on women's rights on May 25 (no further info yet) Toolkit:

"How to Fight for Abortion Rights in Your State"

ACTIONS

• "Charge or Release Student Mohamed Imran" (Sri Lanka 42.22)
• "Free the Gezi Defendants" (Turkey 37.22)
• "No Access to Family and Proper Medical Care" (China 284.16)
• "Human rights defender at risk in Gambia: Madi Jobarteh" (Gambia 40.22)

NEXT MEETING: 15 June, 7:30 p.m.