In honor of National Volunteer Month, we will introduce some of our dedicated AIUSA volunteers. This blog highlights our passionate student and youth activists who participated in AIUSA’s Youth Lobby Day.
On March 9, 2026, more than 120 activists from across 34 states came together on Capitol Hill for Amnesty International USA’s first-ever Youth Lobby Day, held right after AIUSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). AIUSA’s Youth Lobby Day is a special day of action that empowers student and youth activists to meet directly with lawmakers and their staff, giving young leaders a meaningful platform to advocate for and safeguard essential human rights legislation.
Extensive training for the big day
In the weeks leading up to Lobby Day, youth activists participated in a virtual training session that introduced them to the day’s objectives and logistics. Directly after the AGM, participants gathered for an intensive in-person training session. They were briefed on Lobby Day’s two priority human rights advocacy issues: the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act and accountability for the U.S. maritime strikes in Latin America. The training equipped them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for change.
“I think giving us the opportunity to come and share our personal experiences and speak to why we’re driven to advocate has been a great experience. Amnesty International gave us not only the resources to do that, but also the training and support needed to help share our stories most effectively.”
– Marwa Abdel-Hak, AIUSA Chapter Co-president at Harvard University (pictured far right in photo)
Welcome to Capitol Hill
On the morning of Lobby Day, AIUSA activists were welcomed with a video message from Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, who offered words of support and emphasized the importance of direct, face-to-face advocacy.
Paul O’Brien, AIUSA’s Executive Director, also addressed participants, expressing his gratitude and highlighting the significant impact Lobby Day has on advancing human rights legislation and strengthening Amnesty International’s movement nationwide.
For many participants, Lobby Day marked the first time that activists were able to walk through the halls of the U.S. Capitol and engage directly with congressional staff.
Arleny Flores, AIUSA Chapter Co-President at Williams College, described what it felt like to join Lobby Day:
“Youth Lobby Day was my first experience lobbying. It meant so much to have the support of Amnesty and other human rights activists while advocating for meaningful change before my representatives. I’ve called and written to many of the offices I visited before, but getting to meet with legislative aides in-person was a completely different experience, which helped me to better recognize the impact of my voice.”
– Arleny Flores, AIUSA Chapter Co-President at Williams College
This year, AIUSA activists targeted a total of 35 districts, resulting in 151 scheduled meetings with Congressional staff, including 66 Republicans, 84 Democrats, and 1 Independent office. Some of these offices included Senator Warren of Massachusetts, Senator Gillibrand of New York, and Senator Moody of Florida.
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act
AIUSA’s youth members advocated for the passage of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act as part of their Lobby Day efforts. This legislation would transform the detention system by creating a presumption of liberty, ending mandatory detention, ending family detention, ending private for-profit detention facilities, and helping to bring the United States back in line with its human rights obligations. At its core, the act would protect the rights and dignity of all immigrants and asylum seekers.
AIUSA members met with legislative aides to explain the bill and highlight Amnesty’s research on mass detention and deportation, including research on Alligator Alcatraz and Krome detention centers. As part of the Paper Dolls to Free Families national campaign, activists also delivered paper dolls created by AGM attendees, each with a message of hope and symbolizing families currently in detention. Activists also shared personal stories and experiences with staff about immigration enforcement happening in their own communities.
“We are constantly seeing everyone around us be terrified of ICE and immigration enforcement agents. In my home state of Maryland, it’s a huge issue, and at my college in New York, we have students being taken by ICE every week, and it’s terrifying. I came to Washington, D.C. to speak to my representatives and ensure they’re fighting for what their constituents want – which is safety from ICE and the end of immigrant detention.
– Anna Miller, AIUSA Chapter Co-President at Columbia University
U.S. Maritime Strikes in Latin America: Accountability for Unlawful Killings
AIUSA members also advocated on demanding accountability for the U.S. maritime strikes in Latin America. Starting in September 2025, under the pretense that the U.S. is in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels, the administration ordered the kinetic strikes of vessels in the Caribbean, which were purportedly transporting drugs. Despite the strikes killing more than 157 people, as of March 12, the U.S. has not named its victims, nor have they provided evidence of their alleged crimes.
AIUSA activists educated congressional staff on the situation and why the strikes are a grave human rights violation. Case studies from Mexico, the Philippines, and Ecuador were also presented, illustrating the regional scope of similar human rights abuses and urging Congress to exercise its authority to stop the killings and leverage its oversight to ensure accountability.
Making connections, advocating for change, protecting human rights
Throughout the day, activists shared their personal stories, distributed folders containing an issue brief with a list of concrete actions Congress can take, addressed questions from staff, and cultivated relationships designed to support ongoing engagement on these human rights priorities.
After a long but impactful day of lobbying, AIUSA student members reflected on their experience and what it meant to be part of Amnesty International’s grassroots movement.
“Lobby Day has brought new meaning to my work with Amnesty by giving me the opportunity to speak directly with my representatives about issues that are incredibly important to youth. As a youth leader at AIUSA, I appreciate having the chance to make my voices and the voices of those that I work closely with heard.”
-Emma Mazzotta, AIUSA Chapter Co-president and Founder at Williams College (pictured third from left)
Events like Lobby Day highlight the power of youth, their impact on Amnesty International’s grassroots movement and the fight for human rights. It’s the strength of our volunteers and members, supported by the dedicated staff who stand behind them, that makes meaningful advocacy efforts like this possible.
“I came to this Lobby Day since no matter what age I am, I want to share my voice and create an impact nationally and internationally. So having the opportunity to talk with my senators and representatives to protect human rights has been a great experience.”
– Kateryna Senenko, AIUSA student activist at River Hill High School (pictured far right in photo)
