Tom Morello Highlights Three Of Our Volunteer Leaders/Groups At The 2008 AGM
Tom Morello Speaks at the AGM © Ron LaJoie/AIUSA
On April 25th longtime Music For Human Rights supporter Tom Morello (of Rage Against The Machine, The Night Watchman, Audioslave and co-founder of the NGO Axis of Justice) joined us at the AGM. This was his second AGM appearance. In 2006 The Night Watchman performed at the AGM concert.
"One of the things that Amnesty International does is help to empower people both one at a time and sometimes by the thousands...that is one of the reasons that I am a supporter of your fine organization."
-Tom Morello
This year he leant a hand at the opening plenary by highlighting three volunteer leaders/groups for their exceptional activism.
Tarah Damant, a longtime AIUSA organizer, this year helped bring the Midwest regional conference to St. Louis, while organizing other rallies and events for AIUSA. In the fall of 2006, Tarah took the initiative to create and organize her own Missouri-focused action to bring the state into compliance with the Violence Against Women Act and to further protect sexual assault survivors. Hundreds of Missouri Amnesty activists took action, and as a result, SB 429 was signed into law on July 12, 2007.
This year, in partnership with New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and long time AI activist Lorry Post, AIUSA has accomplished a historic success – abolishing the Death Penalty in New Jersey. This would not have been possible without the ceaseless work of AIUSA staffers and volunteers.
Get on the Bus brings together the more than 1,000 activists every year to advocate change in NY City. It’s the largest single volunteer organized event in AIUSA. During the AGM, Tom recognized “Get On the Bus” activists: Kelly Turley, Tina Hwaung, Nate Stell, Anna Phelan, Rick Roth, and all Group 133 members. Every year, Get on the Bus activists gather to protest and sway politicians to change their course of action on individual cases, legislative actions and campaigns.
"[Seeing the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope tour on TV in the 1980's] was one of the things that helped me to grasp the bras ring of both rock and political activism in my own life."
- Tom Morello