Get on the Bus for Human Rights (GOTB) is an annual day of human rights activism and education organized by Amnesty International Group 133 of Somerville, MA and a dedicated team of volunteer community organizers. Now in its seventeenth year, GOTB brings activists from through out the Northeast – riding buses, commuter trains and in carpools - down to New York City to take peaceful action in front of embassies, consulates and corporate headquarters in support of human rights.

We are students and activists who embody a keystone of Amnesty International's mission to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave human rights abuses. On Friday, April 27th, we'll spend the morning learning from a speakers panel comprised of experts, survivors, and people immediately impacted by human rights violations. They will provide us with a greater understanding of the issues for which we'll be demonstrating in the afternoon

In 2012, we celebrate 17 years of supporting human rights. We will again demand the immediate and unconditional release of Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen and the release of Filep Karma, a West Papuan activist who was arrested by Indonesian authorities in 2004 for raising the outlawed Morning Star flag. We will urge the government of Myanmar (Burma) to release Khun Kawrio, Ko Aye Aung, and all Prisoners of Conscience. And we continue call attention to war crimes committed by both the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan civil war, this time calling on the Sri Lankan government to effectively investigate and prosecute those who murdered Ragihar Manoharan and the rest of the “Trinco Five”. More information will be forthcoming on our Actions page. These are all peaceful and permitted events, and police will be present to ensure we have the greatest possible security while in New York City.

Get on the Bus!
With groups traveling from areas throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic, we recognize that one of the biggest challenges is getting your members to and from GOTB. Please see our Getting to NYC resource page for information on buses leaving from your area and tips on how to organize your own transportation. If you plan to ride one of the buses, take note of the bus registration deadlines and fees, which are in addition to the GOTB event registration. If you still have questions pertaining to transportation, feel free to contact us at gotb@amnesty133.org and we'll do our best to help.

Step into the Driver’s Seat
GOTB represents the spirit of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) grassroots activism. It is the largest volunteer-run Amnesty International event in the country. What began as a day trip by 35 members of Group 133 has grown into event that draws upwards of 1,200 participants. Over the past few years, the GOTB coordinating team has evolved to include student leaders, members of AIUSA chapters and local community coalitions. Our continued success comes from our strength in numbers - on the day of the event - but also from the outstanding leadership of a handful of regional volunteers.

We rely on you to keep GOTB on the road. Wanna do more? If you'd like to step into the driver's seat, drop us an email at gotbvolunteer@amnesty133.org or check out our Get Involved page.

Be inspired!
Don't forget to check out our History/About GOTB page with a scrapbook of prior years' events, archived photos, music, quotes, and articles to get a sense of the amazing things we've accomplished together over the years. We're creating new history too! Friend us on Facebook or subscribe to the GOTB Blog.

If you have any questions not addressed on this website, please contact us at gotb@amnesty133.org and we'll be in touch shortly. Be sure to keep an eye on the website for periodic updates, and we'll look forward to seeing you in NYC!

~ The GOTB Coordinating Team