Interview with Dan King, Member of AIUSA Group 133 and Coordinator for AI Northeastern University

May 1997

When did you join AI and why?

1992, because i was feeling righteous and wanted to help those who needed help and amnesty was the most prominent organization that i could find, seeing how i was still amazed by the roving HUGE concerts that were organized back in the day.

What was your first meeting like?

a lot of letter writing and movie watching. we watched the movie "You Could be Arrested", other than the fact that it was dated, the movie was incredibly moving. i still recommend it to people as a means of roping people into AI.

What was your best/most successful AI experience?

two things actually. woodstock because i became incredibly immersed in AI's legends, facts, and many different activities it works on, so it was a learning example, sort of like giving me the ammunition to battle and then i used the ammunition to debate a bunch of mud-caked knuckleheads on the death penalty.

secondly the most moving event i took part in was a fast for tibet which took place on the state house of massachusetts for two days. it left a tremendous mark in my mind, to see how many people could not go back to their homeland as they know it due to brutal dictators who have overtaken it

Your Worst?

I don't know , I get something positive from anything I do.

What do you want to see happen in AI in the next 10 years?

more diversification. we need to look at communities that haven't always been considered 'targets' because members are important but activists are necessary, money talks but activists walk and i think a lot of communities are out there to be utilized that haven't always been looked at well enough.

What is the most important part of your work?

letter writing. the loudest voice a dictator who is committing an abuse against the human body is the one screaming from his desk.

Can you tell us about your roles in Amnesty?

i am a SAC, which mean i am a reference point for school groups who have questions, need guidance, or for anything in general really.

Who are your role models?

any person who overcomes difficulties and works for the betterment of humanity, no matter the obstacle, many different individuals have an effect on who i am and why i do what i do.