Amnesty International
Working to Protect Human Rights Worldwide

Group 101

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

   

Each month Group 101 writes letters on behalf of victims of human rights abuses with the assistance of materials distributed by the national Amnesty office. We also participate in local actions; the most recent one focused on the violation of human rights at Guantanamo (see below). We have also collaborated in solidarity with other local groups on the unsolved killings of women in Juarez, Mexico, as well as the detention of undocumented workers by ICE at the Regional Correctional Center in Downtown Albuquerque.

Past Event: Potluck Dinner and Holiday Card Action    December 27, 2007

Each year during the winter holidays, Amnesty International asks friends and members to send messages of support to prisoners and human rights defenders around the world. Group 101 held a potluck dinner and after eating prepared holiday cards to support these prisoners and human rights defenders.

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At 7pm, Keith McHenry from Food not Bombs discussed his experience as a prisoner of conscience who was assisted by Amnesty when he was imprisoned. He will also discussed the harassment of Food not Bombs volunteers and what can be done to protect their rights. If you would like a video or audio copy of his talk, email info@ai101abq.org.

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A street theater enactment of Guantánamo: A life sentence with no trial was held in front of the ABQ Federal Building. The event commemorated the International Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors. The dynamic La Cucaracha Stew Theater Company created the elaborate cage and other props, and was critical in making this event a success. The event was shown on the local Indymedia TV program. Organized by: Amnesty International Group 101 and La Cucaracha Stew Theater Company. Co-sponsored by UNM Amnesty International, First Unitarian Social Justice Council and ACLU-New Mexico. Read about AI's campaign to close Guantánamo Bay.

In the summer of 2007, Liz McMaster and Nell Burrus of Amnesty 101, and Renee Wolters of UNM Amnesty accompanied Cecilia Chavez of the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice and Lisa Perry of UNM to meet with family members of Maria Sagrario, who was one of many young women who have been killed in a wave of violence against women in Juarez. More information. Amnesty 101 has joined forces with the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, Amnesty UNM and other concerned groups and individuals in Albuquerque to raise money and material aid to support a small women's community center and pre-school both founded in memory of Mario Sagrario.

Albuquerque attorney Brandt Milstein presented his assessment of the detention of immigrants at the Regional Correction Center in Albuquerque, and summarized findings from numerous interviews he has taken as part of the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project. Later, Amnesty members participated in a protest at the RCC. See the June 2007 Albuquerque Tribune article for more information.