Rick “Biskit” Roth

I became an activist when my first daughter Hope was born, I attended with her when she was two months old. I believe that part of being a parent is to try and make the world a better place.

The major skill I learned that ordinary people can make a difference in the world.

I am continually inspired by the folks who we work on behalf of, human rights defenders around the world.

I once met Phuntsok Nyidron a Tibetan nun held in Chinese prisons for all but one year from age 14 to 30. Her confinement was in horrible conditions and yet when she came out she told us that “when I see the efforts made on behalf of Tibetan human rights by non-Tibetans” it makes my imprisonment worth it.”

If someone can endure that type of suffering, I figure I can write some letters and organize some events for them.

There will be no human rights in this world without our fighting for them.

We recently organized part a day of protest in New York City called “Get on the Bus.” One of the protests highlighted two cases of individuals in danger due to the Muslim ban. We had hundreds of people protesting outside the US Mission to the United Nations.

We need to confront it when we find it and speak out. We also make an effort to truly cooperate with other groups on our communities and get out of our own comfort zones to do it. After 9-11 there was a hate crime in our community and a Muslim owned business had their windows broken. We were able to raise all of the money to replace the windows by soliciting small donations from other business owners and in the process were able to engage folks on issues of racism and intolerance in our town.