(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Amnesty International USA bids fond farewell today to the legendary Pete Seeger, a stalwart champion of social justice and activist for civil and human rights who died January 27, aged 94.
“Pete represented the best of his generation in terms of activism and lifelong support of the cause of human rights,” said Steven W. Hawkins, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “We will miss him.”
An iconic and memorable moment for Amnesty supporters was Seeger’s recording, at the age of 92, of Dylan’s “Forever Young” with The Rivertown Kids, a community of musically minded young people in his home town of Beacon in upstate New York, whose motto is “Changing the world one song at a time.”
Seeger provided unforgettable mentorship to the children’s chorus ahead of the performance, which was featured on the compilation “Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.”
In 2010, Seeger performed at an Amnesty International benefit concert marking what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, taking to the stage with The Rivertown Kids to perform “Give Peace a Chance.”
“Amnesty is honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to work alongside such a legend,” said Hawkins. “May his legacy continue to inspire people around the world to fight for human rights.”
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million members in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.