In honor of National Volunteer Month, we will introduce some of our dedicated AIUSA volunteers. This blog showcases volunteers who organize our Interfaith Actions.
For the past five years, AIUSA has hosted a Spring Interfaith Action in support of critical human rights work, coinciding with the observances of Ramadan, Holi, Lent and Easter, and Passover.
This mobilization is a moment for Amnesty activists and faith communities to connect, share a meal, learn about human rights issues, and take action. This year, the mobilization occurred from February 15 to April 15 and focused on AIUSA’s priority work to dismantle the mass deportation machine in the U.S. and end the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Over the years, this Interfaith Action has grown to be a member-led initiative, co-created by staff and membership. This year, an advisory group of five members, including country specialists, local group members and student group members, collaborated with staff to determine the human rights focus of the initiative, the timing of the mobilization, and the resources that would be provided. These members also led events and identified new partnerships to share AIUSA’s work with new communities across the United States.
Uniting communities from coast to coast
This year, members hosted or joined 14 events in partnership with 17 local, regional or national faith-based organizations and communities. Another 22 individuals signed up to take individual action during the mobilization. Together, they reached over 1800 people!
LOS ANGELES
In Los Angeles, CA, Shaheera Abbasi, youth leader and member of the Faith in Action Network, hosted an event with SHERA Ambassadors, Seeds of Barakah, and Chai With US. Shaheera said:
“The event convened a carefully curated group of approximately 80 changemakers, student leaders, and respected community members, including individuals connected to Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) and other grassroots networks…This intimate format allowed for meaningful conversation, relationship-building, and honest feedback about barriers to engagement.“
DETROIT
In Detroit, MI, Ken and Geraldine Grunow and Detroit Local Group 78 co-hosted an event with the Islamic Institute of America Unity Interfaith Group. Ken and Geraldine said:
“We wish that front-line Amnesty staff could have heard the compliments that Amnesty received; the Imam, for example, spoke of how Amnesty works to protect people from tyrants and how Amnesty had worked on his father’s behalf when he was imprisoned.”
CHICAGO
In Chicago, IL, Mohamed Abdelsatar, Egypt and Kuwait Country Specialist, and Kevin Zickterman, local group coordinator, represented Chicago Local Group 113 and the Middle East CoGroup at the Islamic Relief USA Grand Iftar, hosting a table and engaging approximately 400 attendees on human rights issues.
At CAIR Chicago’s 14th Annual Taste of Ramadan, they engaged approximately 100 attendees on human rights issues, distributed Amnesty campaign materials, and gave a brief presentation after Maghrib prayer highlighting human rights cases.
NEW JERSEY
In New Jersey, Ken Mayers, Algeria and Libya Country Specialist, coordinated Amnesty tables at three events hosted by the Palestinian American Community Center, Peace Islands Institute, the Turkish Cultural Center, and Morristown United Methodist Church.
At one event hosted by the Peace Islands Institute and Turkish Cultural Center, Antonio Segalini spoke about his transformative experience in high school as an AIUSA student group member, which inspired him to pursue a career in public service. Antonio is now the Democratic Council President in East Rutherford, NJ, and the youngest council president in the history of the town.
PENNSYLVANIA
In Carlisle, PA, Eleanor Moose and the student group at Dickinson College co-hosted an event with Dickinson College’s Muslim Educational and Cultural Association (MECA), the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice, the Popel Shaw Center for Race and Ethnicity, and the Middle East Studies Department.
People learned and had conversations about religious minority community work in the area, immigration rights and advocacy, and the idea and purpose of urgent action work. And in Pittsburgh, PA, John Belch and North Hills Local Group 524 had an Amnesty table at the Sisters of Divine Providence’s Bishop Ketteler Social Justice Award Ceremony, and this year’s awardees were being honored for their work with immigrant communities.
ORLANDO
In Orlando, FL, Rahma Hassan, IOPT Country Specialist, and Orlando Local Group 519 co-hosted events with CAIR Florida, Quaker House of Orlando, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Orlando 50501, and Muslim Women’s Organization. Rahma also tabled at events hosted by the University of Central Florida’s Muslim Student Association and Islamic Relief.
U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost attended the CAIR Florida and Quaker House event and spoke to attendees about the importance of coming together.
“[People who attended] said that this interfaith iftar is a great way to understand each other better and break the barriers that divide us. Members of the Quaker faith, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communitiesy gave statements of solidarity and support.”
Rahma Hassan
Each event was unique to the community, but each one provided meaningful opportunities for new communities to connect with Amnesty activists, learn more about human rights issues in the United States and around the world, and feel inspired and empowered to take action with Amnesty International USA!
Across the United States, many faith-based groups and faith communities come together to strengthen their neighborhoods and serve the needs of their wider communities. AIUSA’s Faith in Action Network is open to all faiths and engages faith-based groups across the country in grassroots activism for human rights.