Amnesty International's Annual "Get on the Bus!" Protest (Monday, April 14th)

Amnesty International Local Group 133 in Somerville, Mass.

HERE WE GO AGAIN...! For the eighth consecutive year, Amnesty International Local Group 133 in Somerville, Mass. is organizing the Get on the Bus (GOTB) trip to New York City for one full day of human rights action and education. We invite you and your group to join other activists in what we anticipate will be the biggest, strongest Get on the Bus ever. Get on the Bus is a great way to get involved with direct human rights action by meeting other activists, taking our voices to the streets, and learning about specific cases that Amnesty International is working on.

Schedule for GOTB Events, April 14, 2003

5:15 - 7:30 am
Buses and caravans leave from locations in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic for NYC. View the bus pick up locations in MA, CT and NH.

10:30 -11:00 am
Arrivals, check in, music, information tables, mingling. Location in 2003: East Meadow on 5th Avenue between 98th and 101st Streets (across from part of Mount Sinai Hospital on 5th Avenue). Parking for vans and cars: on 99th between Park Avenue and Madison at the Mount Sinai Medical Center (Cost: $17.55 for up to 12 hours). Parking info and maps for chartered buses.

11:00 - Noon
Action #1: Human Rights Rally in Central Park. To emphasize the role of student groups in this year's Get on the Bus, several students will be given the opportunity to speak about what they have worked on th is year during the opening rally. The rally will also feature information tables regarding each action, a town-meeting type discussion, and music. To find out how you and/or your group can make a presentation, contact Paul Bugala (617-504-3991, gotb@amnesty133.org).

12:00 -12:15 pm
March/walk to Russian Consulate, 9 East 91 Street

12:15 - 1:00 pm
Action #2: At Russian consulate GGOTB to bring to light the disappearances that have occurred in Chechnya during the Russian Federations' military campaign in that region. Among our esteemed guests this year is Bela Tsugaeva, who works with refugees displaced by the conflict. Ms. Tsugaeva will join us at the Russian consulate and also speak during the panel that will follow. Location: Russian Consulate, 9 East 91 Street, NYC.

1:00 - 1:45 pm
Lunch on your own. Bring a sack lunch. A list of local eateries will also be provided, but the next event will begin on time.

1:50 - 3:00 pm
Speakers Panel and Presentations.

Joining Ms. Tsugaeva on the panel will be Xu Wenli, a founder of the democracy movement in China who was released from a Chinese prison in December 2002. With him will be Christina Fu, whose husband, Yang Jianli, is currently imprisoned in China for his pro-democracy activism. Mr. Yang has been the subject of an Amnesty-wide letter writing campaign.

We are also fortunate to have Jean-Pierre Kamwa join us this year. Mr. Kamwa is a refugee from Cameroon; former INS detainee; founder of Espoir, a support netwo rk for immigrants who were detained in the US; and a counselor/case manager at Safe Horizon, a NY program for torture survivors. He won the 2002 Detention Watch Network award for advocacy.

Location: Brick Presbyterian Church, 62 East 92nd Street, near the NW corner of 91st Street and Park Avenue (1/3 mile from Russian Consulate).

3:00 pm
BOARD BUS FOR U.S. MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS NOTE: If you are not riding the Amnesty bus, you will need to either drive, take a cab, or ride the city bus. CITY BUS INFO: Take city bus #1, 2, 3, or 4 from the 5th Ave. and 92nd stop. Get off near 45th Street. Walk east on 45th Street to U.S. Mission to the United Nations, 799 First Avenue (SW corner of E. 45th St.) Travel time is approximately 15-20 minutes. Cost per person: $1.50, exact change only. A cab ride for 4 people would be less than $10.

3:15 - 4:00 pm
Action #3: Refugee and Immigrant Rights Demonstration near the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, calling on the U.S. government to end the detention of refugee children and asylum seekers, to reverse recent restrictions on asylum and legal immigration for refugees, and to restore due process and civil liberties to Arabic and Islamic individuals. Location: U.S. Mission to the United Nations, 799 First Avenue (SW corner of E. 45th St.)

4:00 - 4:40 pm
WALK TO CHINESE CONSULATE. The group will be escorted by Amnesty volunteers. Participants may also take a bus or cab. CITY BUS INFO: Take city bus #M42 to 12th Ave. and 42nd Street. Get off and walk to Chinese Consulate, 520 12th Ave. Travel time is approximately 15-20 minutes. Cost per person: $1.50, exact change only. A cab ride for 4 people would be less than $15.

4:40 - 5:20 pm
Action #4: Tibetan Human Rights Protest at the Chinese Consulate asking for the release of the remaining Tibetan nuns from the Drapchi prison and of Yang Jianli. We will also have the opportunity to celebrate the release of Xu Wenli, the subject of past GOTB demonstration at the Chinese Consulate. Location: Chinese Consulate, 520 12th Avenue.

5:30 pm BOARD BUS FOR HOME.

(For More information, please visit http://www.amnesty133.org/ai/gotb/index.html)

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Source: "Amnesty International".