American Anti-Slavery Group

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The American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG) is a coalition of abolitionist organizations engaged in political activism to abolish slavery in the world today. It raises awareness of contemporary slavery, particularly among the chattel slaves of Mauritania and Sudan, raises funds to support relief and aid to enslaved populations and escaped former slaves, and lobbies government officials for such purposes.[1]

The AASG was co-founded in 1994 by Charles Jacobs (who served as its first research director) with African human rights activists Mohamed Athie of Mauritania and David Chand of Sudan.[2]

Incorporated in Newton, Massachusetts, the AASG reports having "many associates and 30,000 members around the world."[3] Recent officers include: Mohamed Athie (past president) and Charles Jacobs (past clerk and treasurer; current president and member of board of directors).[4]

The AASG maintains close ties to The Sudan Campaign, for which Charles Jacobs serves as a co-chairman, and to The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership, which he founded in 2002 and for which he currently serves as president.

[edit] Central components

There are "four components" central to the AASG elaborated on iAbolish:

  • Awareness

"The first step in eradicating modern slavery is educating the public that it still exists. At AASG we build awareness through our publications, school curricula, conferences, and Speakers’ Bureau — consisting mainly of survivors of slavery."

  • Advocacy

"We advocate for the freedom of those degraded by slavery through government lobbying and online campaigns, which locate effective pressure points in corporations that benefit from slavery, governments that tolerate human bondage, and leaders who remain silent."

  • Activism

"Through our website, we have established a diverse network of activists around the world who are passionate about freedom. Our grassroots activism takes the form of rallies, candlelight vigils, freedom marches, petitions and letter-writing campaigns."

  • Aid

"We partner with organizations working on the ground to provide essential rehabilitation and support to victims of slavery. By providing food, shelter, education, and rehabilitation, AASG equips survivors with the tools they need to rebuild their lives." Most modern day slavery is in Africa, and this is where the activists are most active.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "About the American Anti-Slavery Group," online posting, iAbolish, n.d., accessed July 25, 2006. Cf. "African Slavery 1996," by Joseph R. Gregory, online posting, First Things 63 (May 1996): 37-39, accessed July 25, 2006. See also "The Great Slave Scam," online posting, Embassy of the Republic of The Sudan news archive, Washington, D.C., 23 Feb. 2002, accessed July 27, 2006. NB: The American Anti-Slavery Group should not be confused with the American Anti-Slavery Society (1833-1870).
  2. ^ AASG Profile, online posting, ArriveNet [2004], accessed July 28, 2006. [Some of the website links are outdated.]
  3. ^ "About the American Anti-Slavery Group," online posting, iAbolish, n.d., accessed August 23, 2006.
  4. ^ Non-profit corporation "Summary Sheet" for American Anti-Slavery Group, Inc., online posting, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Corporations Division 2001-2006, accessed July 27, 2006; "Who We Are," online posting, iAbolish, n.d. (copyright 2006), accessed July 27, 2006.

[edit] External links

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