GET ON THE BUS
with Amnesty International in New York City!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN for GOTB 2010 on Friday, April 16th!
Get on the Bus for Human Rights (GOTB) is an annual day of human rights education and activism organized by Amnesty International USA Group 133 of Somerville, MA and a dedicated team of volunteer community organizers. Now in its fifteenth year, GOTB draws upwards of 1,200 participants riding buses, commuter trains, and carpooling down to New York City to take peaceful action in front of embassies, consulates and corporate headquarters in NYC in support of human rights.
Use this website to learn more about the schedule of events for the day and all the tips you'll need to get down to NYC on Friday, April 16th.
We love to hear from you! Let us know how your travel plans are coming along, contact us at gotb@amnesty133.org.
Video from Get on the Bus 2006 by Birgit Werner
Snapshots from Get on the Bus 2008
In 2008, more than 1,000 activists from 8 states gathered in NYC for a day of human rights action and education, focusing on journalists at risk in Sri Lanka, a call for justice in Darfur, support of the Burmese people in Myanmar, freedom for Fathi el-Jahmi in Libya, and a Bhopal action at the Indian Consulate. Once again, GOTB became the largest and most energized event put on by Amnesty International in the United States.
What are people saying about Amnesty's Get on the Bus?
"I joined Amnesty the beginning of my sophomore year and I did urgent
actions, and that was about it. I hadn't really learned that much about what
was going on. Then when I did 'Get On The Bus', I was blown away. I learned
so much and I wanted to go home and teach everyone what I had learned. This
was one of the best, or possibly the best experience of my life, and now
being in Amnesty has a larger purpose for me. I now want to go on more
trips, do more Amnesty events and teach and inform more people."
Angelica Thornhill GOTB past participant
"Last Friday I joined a group of 16
students from the Winsor School as a parent participant in Amnesty's "Get On The
Bus" Program. The one-day program was a terrific success, and I want you to know
from a participant's viewpoint how well organized the entire event was. Each of
the four buses from Boston had two extremely well-prepared AI volunteers who
briefed participants on the way to NY, and once we reached the city further
excellent briefing was conducted for over a thousand participants from eight
Northeast Regional states. The demonstrations were orderly, focused and clear in
their message, attracted much attention, and, from the reaction of passersby,
much credit to Amnesty and the high school and college students participating. I
was proud to be part of this extremely successful program..."
~ John Shattuck Former Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights during the Clinton Administration
Site last updated on January 7, 2010
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Snapshots from Get on the Bus 2008
"I joined Amnesty the beginning of my sophomore year and I did urgent
actions, and that was about it. I hadn't really learned that much about what
was going on. Then when I did 'Get On The Bus', I was blown away. I learned
so much and I wanted to go home and teach everyone what I had learned. This
was one of the best, or possibly the best experience of my life, and now
being in Amnesty has a larger purpose for me. I now want to go on more
trips, do more Amnesty events and teach and inform more people."