SPONSORED BY
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AI Local Group 133
of Somerville, Mass.
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OLDER QUOTES FROM GOTB
"Get on the Bus brings hope right before my eyes. Get on the Bust is an inspiring and inspiriting event. When you are with this amazingly vibrant group of people, you can't think of anything, but hope. You know that they are eager and ready to unselfishly offer their talents, skills, energy, time and other resources to help you in any way they can to bring your loved one home. They represent a sense of great kindness and justice. From the bottom of my heart, I realize that this is the beauty of democracy, these are the people who can make the world a better place for all..."
~ Christina Fu, Wife of Yang Jianli, and 2003 GOTB guest speaker
"If people in Chechnya could see these things, they'd be so happy."
~ Bela Tsugaeva, advocate for Chechen refugees in Ingushetia, and 2003 GOTB guest speaker
"Get on the Bus is awesome! Patrick is cool!"
~ Aaron Yang, 7 years old
"It was amazing, your initiative to take that on, really shows the best part
of Amnesty. It also gives us more meaning in our work, seeing things in
action and able to put our cogroup people to do something productive - see
results. That's a rare thing."
~ David Percey, AIUSA Russia Co-Group, Washington D.C.
"It was such a joy to look out at that sea of beautiful young faces and know
that they really care about the world and that they think about what they
can do to change it. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to witness
that."
~ Rita Lasar, 2002 GOTB speaker from September Eleventh Family Members for
Peaceful Tomorrows, New York City, New York
"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, 10th grade participant from Massabesic High
School, Maine (who got up at 3am to get on the bus to NYC)
One student, Elise Schmidt (Northwest Catholic High School in CT) came to
school the following Tuesday hoarse from shouting. She said, "I really
think this shows how we can make a difference in our world."
"All in all, the day was a terrific experience for the students, and we will
definitely participate next year. Lots more students wished they had come.
Overall, I think GOTB day has provided an opportunity for people to act and
be visible in their commitment to political change. [Activists] need the
sense of empowerment and the ability to put their concerns into productive
work. This was a valuable lesson that all the sessions on letter writing
just doesn't quite convey. The sense of connectedness to other people is
important too. GOTB reaffirmed our commitment and out sense of new
possibilities in the world in a valuable way. Since we have returned, the
[students] who have participated have stood up within the school community
more often and with more confidence, and their interest in why human rights
abuses occur is widening. For me personally, it was a time to "walk the
talk" and an opportunity to reflect on the enormous power we really do have.
I actually appreciated the fact that our society allows such activities
without frea, and felt very aware of the many thousands of people around the
world for whom taking part in such a day would result in prison, violence,
and worse."
~ Sarah Doenmez, History Department Chair of Dublin School, Dublin, NH
(first time GOTB participant in 2002)
"GOTB was a great thing to do because I felt that besides just writing and
signing letters I was now using my voice. I felt especially happy after
protesting at the Chinese Consulate because I was protesting against
something that really is a huge issue, and I think GOTB helped it."
~ Elizabeth Bower, age 16, Dublin School, Dublin, NH
"GOTB meant a lot to me and to the rest of my group. Although we had to get
up at 3 am.... we all felt that it was well worth it. We felt like it was
empowering to us. It was the first demonstration for most of us, and I'm
sure the person who follows me after I graduate as president will make sure
our group will go next year. And I will also make sure the college I go to
will have a group and will go next year too!"
~ Kate McMahon, age 18, President of Amnesty at
Massabesic High School, Maine
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