Students want to see the end of genocide
Posted on February 21, 2008
Each day thousands of people fall victim to genocide across the world. JMU’s Amnesty International group wants to stop it.
Founded more than five years ago, the school’s Amnesty International chapter aims to bring attention to human rights violations across the globe.
“[Amnesty International is] based around the idea that we all have rights because we are human beings and people deserve certain things because of that,” senior co-President Michael Zanichelli said.
While the campus group has not grown significantly in terms of members, it has greatly expanded the number of events and programs it puts on for the school’s community.
The week of April 7, Amnesty International is putting on Genocide Awareness Week, showing films such as “Rabbit Proof Fence,” “The Killing Fields,” “The Devil Came on Horseback” and “Sometimes in April.” In addition to showing the films, will have petitions regarding current genocides, including Darfur.
“We timed it to go along with the beginning of the Rwanda Genocide,” Zanichelli said.
In conjunction with Student Ambassadors, Amnesty International is hosting “Take the Pulse.” Local bands and guest speakers will help raise money for entrepreneurs in the developing world. The $5 entrance fee will be given to Kiva.org, a non-profit organization that provides micro-loans to business entrepreneurs in developing countries.
“The whole idea is to motivate the JMU student body into helping less fortunate areas,” Zanichelli said.
The organization originally began as a force to help free political prisoners through letter writing and petitions. By taking on other human rights issues it developed into a worldwide organization focused on preventing all human rights violations.
Through petitioning, discussion and letter writing, JMU’s chapter brings attention to global issues that might not always receive attention on campus.
“It was started because people saw a need for human rights issues that don’t get talked about in the JMU bubble,” Zanichelli said.
Each year, Amnesty International sponsors a nationwide week of student action. This year the group is working to shut down Guantanamo Bay. The group sends a kit to each organization filled with petitions regarding human rights violations in the area, said junior co-president Meagan Chevalier.
The group also hosts Madison Movement, in conjunction with Center for Multicultural Student Services and Neo Underground Railroad Conductors. The event is an overnight mock refugee camp on the Festival lawn from March 29-30. Participants are allowed to bring a cardboard box, water and crackers for the night.
“Whole purpose is to raise awareness about people who are displaced all over the world,” Chevalier said.
The goal of the “Madison Movement,” is to help people understand what it means to be a displaced person.
Zanichelli said, “[Amnesty International is] giving students a broader perspective on what’s going on beyond JMU.”
