Amnesty International: Bowling Green Chapter AIUSA Group 256 records

Founded in 1961, Amnesty International (AI) is an organization dedicated to ensuring that all people are guaranteed the rights delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other recognized human rights standards. This is done through research, action, and advocacy. Interested parties may work individually with AI or form chapters, or groups. These groups may be created around high schools, colleges, or communities.

The Bowling Green, Ohio chapter, a community-based group, was founded by Michael Mott, an English professor at Bowling Green State University. Professor Mott began reaching out to members of the Bowling Green in the spring of 1981. He, and co-leader Alice Heim Calderonello, held informational meetings in the spring of 1982. The group made its formal application for chartering in June of 1982. Throughout their existence, the group adopted several prisoners, organizing letter-writing campaigns for their releases. Committee positions, as well as membership, fluctuated over time.