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Athens Human Rights Festival

Location

Athens

Dates

May 01, 2010 - May 02, 2010

Description:

The 32nd annual Human Rights Festival will be held:

MAY 1-2, 2010
COLLEGE SQUARE in DOWNTOWN ATHENS, GA

HISTORY OF
THE ATHENS HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL

The University of Georgia Free Speech Task Force organized the Memorial Students' Rights Festival at Legion Field on Friday, May 4, 1979 to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the Kent State murders. Gene Guerrero (Director - Georgia American Civil Liberties Union) urged students to oppose the reinstatement of the draft. Athens attorney Hue Henry criticized UGA President Fred Davison's "pattern of arrogance" and supported the Free Speech Task Force's lawsuit against the Board of Regents' policy of preventing students from addressing Board meetings. Gary Appelson (Athenians for Clean Energy) appealed for unity to fight nuclear power. Promoting solar energy, Appelson said, "We think we are free to go to war and to interfere in the Middle East. Americans are oil junkies." Tommy Jordan played acoustic guitar and has performed at every festival since.

In 1980 the name of the event was changed to the Human Rights Festival and this later would be recognized as the 2nd annual festival. "Human Rights Awareness Day" was proclaimed by Athens Mayor Lauren Coile. The May 3 festival featured Millard Farmer, an Atlanta civil rights attorney and death penalty opponent who has been a popular speaker at numerous festivals. Head of the Team Defense Project and best known as defender of the Dawson Five in 1977 (five young African-Americans accused of murdering a white farm foreman during a Terrell County grocery store robbery), Farmer stressed the need for "a human rights year and a human rights life, not just a human rights day." Another featured speaker at the 2nd annual festival was local Athens attorney and political rising star, Michael Thurmond. Entertainment for the Saturday ten hour event included the Omowale Contemporary Dancers, Josh Olsen (another festival veteran), Turtle Bay, Phil and the Blanks, and Grains of Sand. UGA art professor and early festival supporter Richard Olsen painted two large murals and displayed them on Legion Field, one depicting the horrors of war.

In 1981 a number of national speakers were invited, including David Dellinger (WWII conscientious objector and Chicago Seven defendant), Sonia Johnson (excommunicated from Mormon Church for supporting ERA), Sidney Lens (anti-war activist, author, and former chairman of the Illinois Impeach Nixon Committee), Anna Gyorgy (founder of anti-nuke organization, the Clamshell Alliance and later director of the Critical Mass Energy Project), Reverend Charles Koen (VP of Southern Christian Leadership Conference), and James Zogby (Coalition for Peace and Justice in the Middle East now known as the American-Arab Alliance). Dave Dellinger warned, "If the world is going to survive, the resurgence of the peace movement must continue." Sonia Johnson said, "The Mormons believe God ordained men to be the rulers of the world. So if men are born rulers, guess who's left over to be the rulees. Women put in two-thirds of the world's work and for this they receive one-tenth of the world's money. That is the statistic of slavery." Athens journalist and radical activist Ed Tant introduced David Dellinger and later delivered his usual fiery oratory. Elton Manzione (Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Grass Roots Organizing Workshop - GROW) spoke from his experience as a Navy SEAL. Four local bands, the Little Tigers, One Eye Open, Red Scare, and Turtle Bay, played at the third annual festival on May 2, 1981.

The theme for the 4th annual festival on May 1, 1982 was "One Planet, One People." State representative and longtime civil rights activist, Tyrone Brooks, led a chant, "Reagan, Reagan, he's no good. Send him back to Hollywood." Concerning the Ku Klux Klan's proposal to start a UGA chapter, Brooks declared, "The problem with the Klan is not those who parade in hoods and sheets. It's those who work in suites, those who run the government." Igal Roodenko, WWII objector and longtime War Resisters League member, said, "As long as we have to act out of paranoia, we're on the verge of disaster." Millard Farmer shouted, "The state is killing people, and it's morally wrong." Band headliner, Afrikan Dreamland from Nashville, performed for the first time along with the Little Tigers, Kinetic Cubist Ensemble, and One Eye Open.

The 5th annual festival took place May 14-15, 1983 at the Athens Fairgrounds, where it grew into a whole weekend of art, music, and politics. Free bus service to the fairgrounds was provided four times daily. A new stage was designed and built for the festival, and the activities were expanded to include a full week of workshops. Workshop leaders included Michio Kaku (renowned nuclear physicist), Robert Randall (Atlanta Tax Conversion Group for Peace and Human Needs), Marty Nathan (her husband was one of 5 activists killed in 1979 by KKK militia in Greensboro, NC), and David Wayte (draft registration resister). The entertainment at the 5th annual festival was unprecedented. Acts included Afrikan Dreamland, Little Tigers, BANG!, Squalls, Toyboat, Men in Trees, Club GAGA, Southern Crescent, Josh Olsen, Raisin Touchers, White House China, Jackson Street String Band, Simplistics, Joe Kuhl, Working Muthas, Napalm Fondue, Macedonia Baptist Church Choir, Geoff Collins, Pressure Boys, Omowale Dancers, Doug Warren, and Quiet Dreams.

Moving permanently to downtown Athens on College Square, the 6th annual festival in 1984 strove to address student apathy and encourage African-American participation. The theme of the festival was "Optimism is not naive but necessary." The appearance of noted local leaders, Michael Thurmond (Athens Rainbow Coalition), Roosevelt Morris (Athens African Episcopal-Methodist Church), and Sonya Wilson (Athens Black Women's Self-Help Group) demonstrated community outreach. Other featured speakers on Sunday, April 29, 1984 were Elton Manzione (VVAW), Brett Bursey (GROW), Reverend Ed Ralph (UGA Lutheran Chapel), Warren McPherson (Athens Montessori), Dr. Loch Johnson (UGA professor/writer), Bruce Hamerslough (Athens Gay-Lesbian Alliance), and Ed Tant. Political satirist Monty Greene educated with his guerilla theater. Bands playing included Afrikan Dreamland, Squalls, Men in Trees, Club GAGA, Subject to Change, and Studio East. Octagenarian rebel, Dr. Louis Carrick, an Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) member and movement veteran, set up an information table.

The 7th annual festival's theme, "Remember Kent State - Remember Jackson State", commemorated the 15th anniversary of the two student protests and killings. Chuck Meese and a drama group from the Northeast Georgia Campaign for a Nuclear Freeze performed. Other organizations represented at the May 4-5, 1985 festival included the Georgia Mobilization for Animals, VVAW, Athens Gay/Lesbian Alliance, and Bread for the World. Afrikan Dreamland, Squalls, Doo Blan Tant, Men in Trees, and Club GAGA played. Local media estimated 1000 people at the Sunday night Dreamland set.

The 8th annual festival was held May 3-4, 1986. A significant addition to the festival was the creation of a Sunday Art Auction, which has become an important focal point of the festival. Money from the first auction was given in part to Amnesty International. Aaron Two Elk (a representative of the American Indian Movement- AIM and the International Indian Treaty Council) spoke on federal oppression of Arizona Hopi and Navajo Indians who were being driven from their ancestral land to build a uranium mine. Continuing problems with death squads in Central America, South African apartheid, and the American struggle for women's and gay rights were also addressed. Chris DeBarr created a shantytown with his drama group, The Nacoochee Scrap Theater, to emphasize the plight of homeless in America. Bands performing included headliner Love Tractor, Squalls, Time Toy, Flat Duo Jets, Club GAGA, Mystery Date, John Miley & Eddie Glikin Duo, and Robert T. and the Nomads.

The 9th annual festival on the weekend of May 2-3, 1987 drew approximately 5000 people. Saturday headliner Love Tractor and Afrikan Dreamland, Sunday's last band, packed College Square. Another highlight was the performance by the New Grove Baptist Church Choir. Reverend Howard Finster, renowned folk artist, played his banjo and contributed to the art auction. Michael Stipe along with University art professors, Jim Herbert, Art Rosenbaum, and Bill Paul also donated works. A portion of the proceeds went to Jubilee Partners (a Christian activist community in Comer, GA). Gwen Patton, a representative of the Montgomery, Alabama chapter of the National Committee for Political Action, was a featured speaker. Chris DeBarr said, " The focus of this year's festival is more on the American people responding to the Reagan years of lies, irresponsibility, and economic mayhem."

"Welcome to a cornucopia of counterculture and celebrate a decade of dissent," said Ed Tant, promoting the milestone 10th annual festival. Voting as a civic duty was the principal issue, and festival volunteers registered 107 Clarke County voters on April 30 and May 1, 1988. AIDS Athens was the recipient of the art auction proceeds. Art Rosenbaum was featured Sunday before the auction as "Guest Artist". Speakers included Aaron Two Elk (AIM), Michael Thurmond (state representative), Phil Williams (IWW), John Hall (AIDS Athens), Nancy Rice (Jubilee Partners), Hogai Nassery (Afghan activist), Dr. Iqbal Singh (Sikh activist), Lawrence Diovo (South African activist), Anita Blaschak (International Female Sexual Slavery activist), Elton Manzione (VVAW), Millard Farmer, Michael Collins, and of course Ed Tant. Widespread Panic was the Sunday headliner. Other entertainers for the historic happening were Josh Olsen, Damage Report, John Miley, Gravity Creeps, Squalls, Michael Guthrie Band, Club GAGA, Oriental Express, New Grove Baptist Church Choir, Performing Artists for Nuclear Disarmament (PAND) Band, and Retro Groove.

Entering a second decade of activism, the 11th annual festival on May 6-7, 1989 featured Karen Ryan (Carter Center Human Rights Office), Sally Tyler (Abortion Rights Action League), Tim Johnson (Campaign for a Prosperous Georgia), Scott Wells (Amnesty International), Randy Lantz (Greenpeace), Marina Riadia (American Friends Service Committee), Jeff Bramlett (ACLU), Dr. David Chand (Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Army), and Pete Conroy (Alabama Conservancy). Auction proceeds went to the Athens Area Homeless Shelter. Music was provided by Time Toy, Groove Trolls, New Grove Baptist Church Choir, Vic Chesnutt, White Buffalo, Blood Kin, St. Eel, Gravity Creeps, Craig Rafuse and Saturnalia, Ratstabbers, Put the Strange Damsel to Work, Porn Orchard, Retro Groove, Tommy Jordan, Josh Olsen, John Miley, Debbie Lou Norton, Dan Farnz, Michael Robinson, and Kerrie Dickson. Art auction contributors were Howard and Michael Finster, Lamar Dodd, Jim Stacy, Andrew VanSickle, Pat Keim, Dru Wilbur, John Hawkins, Jill Schultz, Deborah Bernstein, Alan Campbell, Rachel Reynolds, Jennifer Hartley, Nancy Sexton, Chris and Brant Slay, Rick Hawkins, Lillian Heard, Andy Kneer, Joni Mabe, Andy Nasisse, Stuart Robinson, and Jeremy Ayers.

Veteran festival organizer Paul Butchart said before the 12th annual festival, "In the past we have been criticized for some of our controversial speakers. We've even been called communists, but I say if communism and community come from the same root then maybe we are. It's all about working for the common good. We're community-ists." The May 5-6, 1990 festival featured an auction contribution by Paul Warhola (Andy Warhol's older brother) entitled "Vegetarian Baked Beans". (Warhola also donated one of his very first "chicken foot" paintings to the festival auction.) Works were also donated by Howard and Michael Finster, Michael Stipe, Andrew VanSickle, John Cleaveland, Mose Tolliver, Jill Schultz, Lillian Heard, Jill Carnes, Farley Daniel, Ruth Gonzales, Michael Hutchinson, Michael Lachowski, and Joni Mabe including autographed posters of the B-52s and R.E.M. The auction benefitted the Athens Rape Crisis Line and NO HARME (Neighborhood Organization of the Human and Animal Rights Movement for the Environment). Entertainers included Mercyland, Porn Orchard, White Buffalo, Benji Ki, Waste Management, Skin Pops, Jarvik 8, PAND Band, Mike Robinson and Nth Degree, John Miley & Eddie Glikin Duo, LaBrea Stompers, Ratstabbers, Paul Lombard, St. Eel, 28 Days, Tommy Jordan, and Josh Olsen. Organizations with booths and speakers were the NAACP, African National Congress, Athens Peace Coalition, Georgia Conservancy, Project SAFE, Human Rights Campaign Fund, VVAW, ACLU, Amnesty International, Students for Environmental Awareness, Athens Area Emergency Food Bank, AIDS Athens, and Athens Gay-Lesbian Alliance.

Making downtown a showcase of "infotainment", the 13th annual festival focused on the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Speakers for the April 27-28, 1991 event included Joey Johnson (a defendant in the 1989 flag burning case before the Supreme Court), Jeff Patterson (the first U.S. Marine to be discharged for refusing to fight in Persian Gulf War), Joe Urgo (a Vietnam vet who threw his combat medals onto the Capitol Building steps), Aaron Two Elk, Donald Eugene Wilkes (UGA law professor), and Athens-Clarke County CEO Gwen O'Looney. Art auction proceeds went to the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank and Project SAFE (a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence). Artists contributing included Howard Finster, Michael Stipe, Paul Warhola, Andrew VanSickle, Michael Lachowski, Pat Keim, Stephanie Jackson, Greg Benson, Jeffrey Richards, Jim Stacy, Ken Kelly, and Dennis Harper. Among the two dozen musical acts were Five Eight, Britt & Samantha, Nerve Clinic, Asa Nisi Masa, Bloodkin, Toast, Miley & Glikin, Greenhouse, Craig Rafuse, White & Cotter, Waylaid, Studio East, Joyce & Jacque, Vic Varney, Just One Minute, Tommy Jordan, OHM, LaBrea Stompers, George & Moira, Mike Robinson, Vultures, Josh Olsen, Montessori Freedom Singers, and Kerrie Dickson. Local poet John Seabright was a spoken word contributor.

Blessed by beautiful weather, the 14th annual festival was held May 9-10, 1992 featuring music by Daisy, White Buffalo, Surreal World Order, Five Eight, Go Figures, Thornyhold, Asa Nisi Masa, Porn Orchard, Neal Pattman, Wet, Joyce & Jacque, Cool Joe, John Miley, Bulletproof, Craig Rafuse, Steve Dancz, Tommy Jordan, Jess Marie Walker, Blitzen w/ Vanessa Vego, Put the Strange Damsel to Work, Hayride, Josh Olsen, Kerrie Dickson, and poetry by John Seabright. Frank Wilkinson (Executive Director- National Committee Against Repressive Legislation) was a main speaker. Participating organizations were Neighbors Network, AIM, Athens Peace Coalition, VVAW, Genesis Youth Project, Lesbian/Gay/Bi Student Union, Amnesty International, School of Americas Watch, Refuse and Resist!, AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT-UP), Community Connection, Food Share of Northeast Georgia, Queer Nation, Georgia State Employees Union, Community Coalition Against Bigotry, NOW, Pro-Choice Action League, ACLU, and Athens Green Party. The auction beneficiary was the Nurses Clinic for the Homeless. Artists donating works included Howard Finster, Michael Stipe, Paul Warhola, Tom Cleveland, Pat Cardiff, Vernon Thornsberry, Jim McKay, Matt Alston, Susan Hall, Joni Taub, Tom Hurst, Melinda Pffifer, and Ron Penn.

Stephen Gaskin (founder of The Farm, a rural Tennessee commune and author) was the featured speaker at the 15th annual festival on May 8-9, 1993. Gaskin spoke on home birthing and the American counterculture. Another prominent speaker was John Stroman who wrote memoirs about the Orangeburg Massacre of 1968 (3 African-American youths were killed by police while protesting discrimination). Performance artist Monty Greene mocked the drug war. Other entertainers were Daisy, White Buffalo, Asa Nisi Masa, Hayride, Neal Pattman Blues Band, Houston, Eddie Bushyhead, Magneto, Pogamoggan, Go Figures, Craig Rafuse, Saffron Moon, J.D. Smith, Vanessa Vego, Strange Attractors, Joyce & Jacque, John Miley, Buddy O'Reilly Band, Tommy Jordan, Basement Saints, Calvin Smith, Josh Olsen, and Kerrie Dickson. The groups receiving proceeds from the art auction were the Athens Child Abuse Council, Coalition to Stop the BioContainment Research Center, and Volunteer Connection. Ed Tant closed the Sunday oratory with "Raise issues! Raise consciousness! Raise hell!"

Ron Nyswaner (screenplay writer for "Philadelphia") and Barry Romo (National Coordinator-Vietnam Veterans Against the War-VVAW) were featured speakers for the 16th annual festival on May 14-15, 1994. Acts included Hillbilly Frankenstein, Hayride, Eddie Bushyhead, Monty Greene, Afro-Plane, Neal Pattman Blues Band, Asa Nisi Masa, Slumberjack, John Miley, Calvin Smith, Craig Rafuse, Go Figures, Thunderwamper, LaBrea Stompers, Joyce & Jacque, J.D. Smith, Buddy O'Reilly Band, Tommy Jordan, Fuzzy Sprouts, Josh Olsen, and Kerrie Dickson. The auction beneficiaries were Athens Area Shares and the YWCO Girls Club. Artists contributing to the art auction were Howard Finster, R.A. Miller, Eli Mayhem, John Crowe, Irvin Alhadeff, Tubby Brown, L-15, Lynnette Wool Phillips, Watt King, Kim Shockley, Pattiy Torno, Andrew VanSickle, Joni Mabe, Pat Keim, Ronn Penn, Patrick Cardiff, and Greg Benson.

Elder statesman of the American peace movement, David Dellinger was the featured speaker at the 17th annual festival on May 6-7, 1995. Dellinger was quoted before his appearance, "I"m looking forward to being in Athens and having a dialogue with the folks down there. Today's youth should be concerned with the future." Other important speakers were Dr. William McFeely (Pulitzer Prize winning authority on Frederick Douglass) and Reverend W.W. Finlator ("The Propriety of Religion in Government and Public Schools"). The recipient of the art auction benefit was the Child Advocacy Center. Art donations came from Michael Stipe, R.A. Miller, Patrick Cardiff, Kenneth Aguar, Tubby Brown, Ian McFarlane, Terry Rowlett, Bill Marriott, Greg Benson, Pattiy Torno, Daniel Fullerton, Karen Cosgrove, John Cleaveland, Melody Croft, Jeff Luckey, Sally Kroehnke, Joni Mabe, and Jack Dobrley. Entertainment was provided by Five Eight, Hayride, Neal Pattman, Hillbilly Frankenstein, Monty Greene & John Whitaker, Fuzzy Sprouts, Craig Rafuse, Lieske & Aquaviva w/ Ripley, Asa Nisi Masa, Prozak, Natabari Dance Company, Eddie Bushyhead, Aviso, Randy Anderson Quintet, Penumbro Ensemble, Rukus, Panjoma Dance Company, Athens Grass, Tommy Jordan, Rubbernubby, Josh Olsen, and J.D. Smith. Eric Krasle, festival treasurer and legal counsel said, "In a way, Athens, GA has inherited the legacy of Athens, Greece. We are perpetuating the marketplace of ideas. We try to give a voice to positive groups not given a voice by corporate America, organized religion, and the mass media."

Fresh from a "60 Minutes" interview and figuring prominently in Sister Helen Prejean's book, Dead Man Walking, Millard Farmer was highlighted at the 18th annual festival on May 4-5, 1996. Wiley Morrison (Hemlock USA and National President- Right To Die) was also featured. Saturday headliner was Love Tractor, with 10,000 Maniacs closing Sunday night. Other performers included The Underground Divas, Craig Rafuse, Fuzzy Sprouts, Vaudeville, Prozak, Reciprocal Dance Ensemble, Where's Anita?, Mr. Pitiful, Aftermath, Douglas Martin, Buddy O'Reilly Band, Hollie Hunt, Squat, Asa Nisi Masa, Randy Anderson Quintet, John Miley, Jaime DeRevere & Elissa Hadley, Athens Montesorri Singers, Jucifer, Athens Grass, Tommy Jordan & String Theory, Poolside, Josh Olsen, and Chris White. Nancy's House (a daycare center for homeless children) was the 1996 art auction beneficiary. Artists donating included R.E.M., Patrick Cardiff, Tubby Brown, William Marriott, Paul Bendzunas, and John Moon.

The 19th annual festival on May 3-4, 1997 featured three veterans of the movement, David Dellinger, Stephen Gaskin, and Ina May Gaskin (international authority on midwifery). Rhonda Armstrong (manager of Otherside Lounge, gay/lesbian club bombed in Atlanta) and Mike Smith (Refuse & Resist) also spoke. Rites of Passage (a program providing guidance to at-risk Athens youth in the African-American community) received proceeds from the art auction. Donations were from Howard Finster, R.A. Miller, R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Jim Herbert, Joni Mabe, Kenneth Aguar, Pat Keim, Peter Loose, Terry Rowlett, Patrick Cardiff, Jeff Harris, Stan Mullins, Paul & Barbara Bendzunas, Andy Cherewick, Stacey Johnson, and Ted Saupe. Entertainment was provided by Five Eight, Fuzzy Sprouts, The Underground Divas, Vic Varney, Jucifer, Vaudeville, Little Red Rocket, Doug Martin & Friends, Melted Men, Craig Rafuse, Asa Nisi Masa, Neal Pattman w/ Mudcat, Buddy O'Reilly Band, John Miley, Jaime DeRevere & Elissa Hadley, Squat-Grogus, One Time, Athens Montessori Singers, Rub, Tommy Jordan & String Theory, Landspeeder, Josh Olsen, and Joey Pruett & Friends.

Reaching a second major milestone, the 20th annual festival on May 16-17, 1998 featured national speakers including former soldier Larry Colburn who helped save the lives of Vietnamese civilians during the infamous My Lai Massacre, crusading African-American publisher Charles Tisdale, and poet, protester, and musician John Sinclair. The beneficiary from the art auction was Citizens for Midwifery. Featured music and entertainment included Guadalcanal Diary, the LaDiDas featuring Vic Chestnett and Todd McBride, Soul Miner's Daughter, Vic Varney, Asa Nisi Masa, the Underground Divas, Fuzzy Sprouts, Squat-Grogus-Earth Collective, Vaudeville, Craig Rafuse, Land Speeder, Jucifer, Macha, Breathlanes, Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band, Cave Paintings, Athens Montessori Singers, the Drive-By Truckers, Tommy Jordan & String Theory, Josh Olsen, and Danse Dambala. There was also spoken word from Doug Martin.

1999 saw the 21st annual festival move to an earlier date, April 24-25, in response to UGA switching to the semester system and holding finals in early May. Another change involved moving the art auction, which benefited the Stonehenge Youth Association, inside to the Globe on the Thursday preceding the festival. The festival featured speakers including Nisha Anand, pro-democracy activist in Burma; Sunday Ereba of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People; John J. Johnson from the National NAACP Office; state labor commissioner Michael Thurmond; Edward Larson, Pulitzer Prize winner; Erik Marcus, Vegan author and activist; and Millard Farmer, anti-capital punishment attorney. Among the bands who played at the festival were the Fuzzy Sprouts, Big Atomic, Macha, Exit 86, Posh Toner, Underground Divas, Five Eight, Squat-Grogus-Earth Collective with Steve Dancz, Eli, Star Room Boys, Jackpot City, Where's Anita?, Blue Stockings, TrunkFire, Fablefactory, Wunderkind, Tommy Jordan and String Theory, Dust Bowl Dinner with The Fountains and Aaron Parrett, and William Tonks and Ben Reynolds. A Children's Program was held on Sunday and included music by Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band, the Athens Montessori Singers, and the Chestnut Grove Youth Praise Choir.

Continuing in its April timeslot, the 22nd annual festival was held on April 15-16, 2000, with the art auction once again being held at the Globe on the Thursday preceding the festival. The 2000 art auction beneficiary was Arvin Scott's Drumming for Success Youth Program, a community-based youth program providing a positive and non-intimidating environment which fosters personal and academic achievement, self-esteem, and creativity. The speakers featured at the festival were Roy Bourgeois, Maryknoll priest, Vietnam War Navy veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, and founder and co-director of the School of Americas Watch; Stephen Gaskin, Green Party Presidential Nominee Candidate; and Dr. Jean Schroedel, Fetal Policy Researcher and author. Other speakers encompassed a wide variety of issues and causes and included Chris Culbreath of the Moore's Ford Memorial Committee; Sunday Ereba, Nigerian Exile; Millard Farmer, Death Penalty Opponent; Nicole Fitzpatrick of Catholic Social Services; Denise Freeman, U.S. Congressional Candidate; Jason Henderson of BikeAthens; Ed Hohlbein of the AIDS Coalition of NE GA; Wil Layng from UGA Students Against Sweatshops; Poet and Writer Lorraine Lopez; Warren McPherson of the Athens Montessori School; Thomas Oglesby of the EW Justice Coalition; Ed Ralph from Christus Victor Lutheran Church; Brad Smith of Jubilee Partners; State Youth Leader & Orator Fred Smith, Jr.; Mary Weisenburg of the Saturday Women's Group; and Dr. Eugene Wilkes, UGA Law Professor. The Sunday children's program featured Pam Blanchard & The Sunny-Side Up Band with the East Athens Educational Dance Center; Evan Michael Bush, Storyteller; the Chestnut Grove Youth Praise Choir; Drumming for Success (the festival beneficiary); the Athens Montessori Singers; and the Woopets of Wooten Performance Company. Music was provided by an outstanding lineup of bands, which included Blue Stockings, Breathlanes, Calliope Fair, Ceiling Fan, Fablefactory, Fuzzy Sprouts, Hunter Gatherer, Little Kat & The Hounds, Megaphone Man, Jennifer Nettles, Park Bench Blues Band, Planet Jive, Arvin Scott, Space Voyage Ahem, Jean Spencer, Tommy Jordan & String Theory, William Tonks & Ben Reynolds, and Trunkfire. Additional groups performing at the festival included Native American dancers and the Underground Divas.

The highlight of the 23rd annual festival, held on April 21 and 22, 2001, was a stirring and well-attended speech by Jesse Jackson, who made a surprise stop in Athens to address the Athens Human Rights Festival as part of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's "New South Tour for Hope, Healing and Shared Economic Security" bus tour across Georgia. In his address he focused on the goal of forming interracial coalitions among the working poor in order to achieve economic security, through the institution of fair taxes and wages, for all peoples. He also touched on the issues of environmental racism and voter registration and voting rights reform. School of the Americas Watch Founder Roy Bourgeois and Kate McCoy of the Columbia Support Network were also featured speakers. Other festival speakers included Joyce Ervin of the Open Heart Center; Clint Rowland, who spoke against Zero Tolerance; the Saturday Women's Group; law professor Eugene Wilkes; Jason Henderson of BikeAthens; the Georgia ACLU; the ACC Green Party; Thomas Oglesby for the Athens NAACP; the AIDS Coalition of NE GA; Ovita Thornton, organizer of the Georgia Rural Urban Summit; Brian Holland for United Progressive Athens; Lonita Melvina Walton of the Unity Church of Athens; festival volunteer Mike Copas; Ed Ralph of the Christus Victor Lutheran Church; Classic City Chaos; Melissa Crowe; Nuci's Space; the Garnet Ridge Family Support Center (beneficiary of the 2001 festival auction); Bob Hill of GLOBES; Jo Carol Nesset-Sale for Cell Phone Safe; and journalist/activist Ed Tant. An excellent and varied array of music was provided throughout the festival by the groups Breathlanes, Calliope Fair, Cosmic Charlie, the Dictatortots, Dromedary, The Fountains, the Fuzzy Sprouts, Grace, Grogus, Hot Burritos, Megaphone Man, Saint Eel, Sammy Suspect, Shank, Soundtrack Mind, and Tommy Jordan & String Theory. The Underground Divas also performed, once again delighting the crowd. The children's program was greatly expanded for the 2001 festival and included programming on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Highlights of the children's program included the Drumming for Success Youth Program, an International Fashion Show, Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band, a presentation of a Peace-for-the-Children Banner, a step show by Rites of Passage, the Athens Montessori Singers, storytelling by Evan Michael Bush, the Clarke Central High School Jazz Band, a dramatic performance by Clarke Central High School's Central Players, and the Chestnut Grove Youth Praise Choir.

April 20 and 21, 2002 saw the festival reaching its 24th year. With 911 still fresh on people's minds, Don Young spoke out against the government's missteps with regard to preventing the September 11 tragedy. Other featured speakers included Mark Baurlein on the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, and anti-death penalty attorney Millard Farmer. The full speakers' lineup included The Colombia Support Group, Native American Carmen Shuler, Rich Rusk of the Moore's Ford Committee, Annette Hatton of G.L.O.B.E.S., Susannah Chapman for Amnesty International, Rob Dewey for People over Profit, Frank Jeffers of the Mad Houser, Green Party candidate Ed Vaughn, Eugene Wilkes of the UGA Law School, Gerry Weber of the ACLU, Roger Keeney from the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities, Montesori school advocate Warren McPherson, Lucy Grider-Bradley on Environmental Racism, Keen Zero of the Libertarian Party, Scott Roberson of the Falun Gong, the Athens Grow Green Coalition, and journalist and festival volunteer Ed Tant. Musicians performing at the 24th annual festival included the two winners of the newly-instituted Battle of the Bands which preceded the festival. These bands were G-305 (high school category) and eLeMeN.O.P. (adult category). Both groups were well received, as were the other invited bands: Redneck GReece Deluxe, Cosmic Charlie, the Dictatortots, Stewart & Winfield, Tommy Jordan and String Theory, The Fountains, SplatSmear Trio, Dromedary, R.U.S.S.I.A., Polemic, Leslie Helper, Nathan Sheppard, Aqualove, Caroline Aiken, and the Squat, Grogus, and Herb and Skills combined group. The Underground Divas were present and warmly welcomed, but unfortunate technical difficulties severely truncated their performance. The Sunday portion of the children's program moved to Saturday, where the consolidated program included repeating favorites Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band, the Drumming for Success Youth Program, Rites of Passage, and the Athens Montessori Singers. New additions included the Korean Dance and Drum Ensemble, 4th Street Elementary School teacher Ken Schenk, the Athens Little Playhouse (A.L.P.S.), and an Indian Fashion Show.

For a quarter of a century, the Athens Human Rights Festival has been an annual springtime event in downtown Athens, Georgia. The 2003 Silver Anniversary Festival, held on May 3 and 4, was a special milestone in the long history of this activist tradition that combines issue-oriented oratory and the best of Athens music in a dynamic and dissident weekend on an all-American town square. At the first festival in 1979 Gary Appelson (Athenians for Clean Energy) lamented, "We think we are free to go to war and to interfere in the Middle East. Americans are oil junkies." In 2003 the Middle East was yet again on the forefront of many speakers' minds as the second Bush administration waged its unsupported war in Iraq. Among those who spoke out against the war were: Pete Brosius and Jessica Seares of Doubts About War; Jason Carter, author and grandson of Jimmy Carter; activist lawyer Millard Farmer; and UGA professor, author and anti-war activist Amy Ross. In honor of the festival's silver anniversary, two speakers with strong ties to the activist past of the 60s and 70s were featured in 2003: Hank Thomas, one of the 1961 Freedom Riders, who spoke on a number of issues including affirmative action; and Rep. John Lewis, also a Freedom Rider and jailed for a time with Hank Thomas, who spoke out against the federal government invading people's privacy and eroding their constitutional rights. Other speakers and groups represented by speakers at the festival included: the Upper Oconee Watershed Network; Carmen Shuler, Native American Activist; Amnesty International; Voices for Planned Parenthood; G.L.O.B.E.S; International Human Rights Scholar Kim Van Der Borght; the Moore's Ford Committee; Eugene Wilkes of the UGA Law School; Doug Hatch, Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living; the National Organization for Women; the Muslim Students Society; the Hispanic Student Association; Habitat for Humanity; Athens Living Wage Campaign; the Athens Society of Friends (Quakers); the Lambda Alliance; the NAACP; the ACLU; Jubilee Partners; the Libertarian Party; the Green Party; and journalist and long-time festival volunteer Ed Tant. Musicians performing at the 25th annual festival included the two winners of the Battle of the Bands: the Jazz Bastards (high school category) and Krill (adult category). Groups invited to perform at the festival were: Fiddlebone, Jason Fuller, Dan K. Theory, Squat, Dubconscious, Underground Divas, eLeMeN.O.P, Dictatortots, Hope For Agoldensummer, Adam Musick, Megan Baer, Packway Handle, Moyuba, Dromedary, Polemic, and The Glands. The children's program was again held on Saturday and included: Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band, Drumming For Success and the UGA Drumming Ensemble, The Athens Montessori Singers, an Indian Fashion Show by Barrow Elementary School, musician Brian Bronkar Lee, Waseca Learning Environment's Universal Dance of Peace, a Pep Rally by the Athens World Of Wonder Playground, Mr. George the Story-teller, Girls With Guitars, and the Cedar Shoals High School "Chicken Wings" acting troupe.

The 26th Annual Athens Human Rights Festival in 2004 continued the event's long history of combining politics and music, this time on a rain-threatening weekend, in the Classic City. Ending the war in Iraq and anti-Bush sentiment were dominant topics at the festival. Featured speakers included anti-patriot act author and former CNN news anchor Lynne Russell, antiwar Vietnam veteran Barry Romo, and longtime free speech and clean elections activist Brett Bursey. Other speakers included festival favorite and fiery attorney Millard Farmer, UGA Professor Eugene Wilkes, Athens journalist Ed Tant, Native American activist Carmen Shuler, and representatives of the Georgia Peace Coalition, A.C.E.S. (Children's Rights), the Upper Oconee Watershed Network, C.A.S.A, Voter Registration, Common Ground, the A.C.L.U., G.L.O.B.E.S., the Moore's Ford Committee, Athena's Shield, Citizens Not Suspects, Athens Area N.O.W., Athens Living Wage Campaign, the N.A.A.C.P., Athens Society of Friends (Quakers), Jubilee Partners, the Sexual Assault Center of Northeast Georgia, the Libertarian Party, and the Green Party. Music is a mainstay of the movement and a bevy of bands and solo performers added some rock to revolution during the weekend. These included musical mainstay Tommy Jordan, who has played every festival, as well as such sounds as Cosmic Charlie, eLeMeN.O.P., Sci Fu, Dodd Ferrelle & The Tinfoil Stars, Herb n' Skills, Dubconscious, Dromedary & Jonathan Byrd, Jean Spencer, Paul Lombard, Donkey Punch, El Mundo Profundo, Entropy, Dan K. Theory, Bob Hay and the Jolly Beggars, and Battle of the Bands Adult Category Winner Tommy Valentine Presents. The Underground Divas performed and presented a tribute to same-sex marriage. The Children's Program this year featured an International Fashion Show by Champions for Children, speaker Warren McPherson, and musical performances by Bronkar, Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band, the Montessori Singers, Girls with Guitars, and the Battle of the Bands High School Category Winner Tone Cakes.

At the 27th annual Athens Human Rights Festival, the war in Iraq unfortunately continued to be a topic of concern, as did rights violations by the U.S. government against its own people and those labeled enemy combatants. 2005 featured speakers were longtime activist Brett Bursey of the South Carolina Progressive Network, Brooke Campbell, an Emory University graduate student whose brother, Sgt. Ryan Campbell, was killed in the Iraq War nearly a year ago, and poet and scholar Coleman Barks who delivered a moving poem against the Iraq war. Other speakers represented the groups Amnesty International, Northeast Georgians Against Discrimination, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Jubilee Partners, Athenians for Justice in Palestine, rights activist lawyers Eugene Wilkes and Millard Farmer, Athens Progressive League, University of Georgia NAACP, Athens Global Justice Collective, the festival beneficiary Darius Goes West, Economic Justice Coalition, festival co-founder Michael Collins, Carmen Shuler for Native American rights, Hispanic Student Association, Moore's Ford Committee, O.P.E.N (Our Peace Efforts Now), Women in Black, and newspaper columnist and festival volunteer Ed Tant. Music for the festival was provided by Art Rosenbaum, Tommy Jordan and String Theory, Megan Baer, Erik Hinds, Jackpot City , Music Hates You, Brown Frown, The Diva Experience, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Christian Lopez Band, Breathlanes, Artie Ball Swing Band, Caroline Aiken, Ralph Roddenbery Band, and eLeMeN.O.P, with headliners Five Eight, and Squat/Grogus. The Diva Experience once again brought their talent and perspective to the festival, while the Battle of the Bands Teen Category Winner, Bitter Fight Against Nothing, performed on Saturday, and the Adult Category Winner, Mayhem Hero, performed on Sunday. The Children's program featured several repeat performers, including Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band, Dr. Arvin Scott's Drumming for Success, the Athens Montessori Singers, Girls With Guitars, and an International Fashion Show featuring the children of Champions for Children, as well as new faces The Wild Sunflowers, and the Clarke Central High School Human Rights Club.

"War means an ugly mob madness, crucifying the truth-tellers, choking the artists, sidetracking reforms,â said radical American writer John Reed as this country entered World War I in 1917. His words still rang true during the 2006, 28th annual Athens Human Rights Festival, which found the nation in its fourth year of war in Iraq. Featured speakers were Denise Thomas of the Georgia Chapter of Military Families Speak Out, and poet Coleman Barks, a student of Sufism and expert on Rumi. Other speakers included the Economic Justice Coalition, Project Safe, Jubilee Partners, GLOBES, fiery lawyer Millard Farmer, as well as attorney Eugene Wilkes, Jr., Clean Air Athens, the Peace Alliance (Department of Peace), Georgians for Choice, the Upper Oconee Watershed Network, the Green Party, Carmen Shuler for Native American Rights, Janice L. Mathis, Esq. for Education as a Human Right, the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, Jill McElheney for Environmental Hazards Awareness, Thomas Oglesby on Poverty in Athens-Clarke County, Endeavor Freedom for Advocacy for Institutionalized Persons, Todd Lister on Biodiesel Awakening, the ONE Campaign to Fight Global Disease and Poverty, Jane Kidd on Voter Rights and the ID Law, Drago Tesanovich for Impeaching George W. Bush, and Athens Journalist Ed Tant. A tribute to Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King was provided by the Ebenezer West Baptist Church, and the Diva Experience performed a tribute to fabulousity and equal rights for all. Music at the 28th annual festival was provided by Tommy Jordan and String Theory, Art Rosenbaum, Leslie Helpert, Bearfoot Hookers, Polemic, eLeMeN.O.P, Music Hates You, Dubconscious, Bob Hay and the Jolly Beggars, St. Eel, Waxwing Trio, Tim Conley, Sursie, Strawberry Flats, Ralph Roddenbery Band, and Bling the Children Back Home, as well as Battle of the Bands winners Rhabdophobic (Adult Category Winner), and Stab the Cook (High School Category Winner). The Children's Program featured music by Henslee and Kenslee, Pam Blanchard and the Sunny-Side Up Band, the Athens Montessori Singers, Dr. Arvin Scott and his Drumming for Success drummers, and Girls With Guitars. George Webber the Story-teller entertained festival goers, and Rites of Passage, the 2007 festival beneficiary, performed their step routines.

As Albert Einstein said, the battle for human rights is "an eternal struggle in which a final victory can never be won, but to tire in that struggle would mean the ruin of society." The 2007 Athens Human Rights Festival was the 29th in a long line of festivals, showing that Athens at least is not tiring in the struggle for human rights. The May 5 and 6, 2007 featured speakers were Brooke Campbell, Sister of Sgt. Ryan Campbell who was KIA in Iraq; Matt Rothschild, Editor of The Progressive; and Coleman Barks, Poet and Scholar. Other speakers included Habitat for Humanity, Food Not Bombs, Post-Partum Depression, Department of Peace, attorney and orator Millard Farmer, Women in Black, Alexis Zeigler - author of "Culture Change: Civil Liberty, Peak Oil and the End of Empire," School of the Americas political prisoner Jonathan Roberts, festival beneficiary Common Ground Athens, UGA Greens, Project Safe, Sexual Assault Center of Northeast Georgia, Moore's Ford Committee, Economic Justice Coalition, UGA Law School Professor Eugene Wilkes, Law Students for Choice, Jubilee Partners, Janice Mathis - Operation PUSH, and Athens journalist & festival volunteer Ed Tant. Music was provided by Shank, Gabriela Mejias, Art Rosenbaum, T. Nebula's Bear and Ben Stevens, Kite to the Moon, Time Toy, Music Hates You, Strawberry Flats, Incatepec, Hope for a Golden Summer, Tommy Jordan and String Theory, Phoenix Pharoh, Breathlanes, Bearfoot Hookers, Squat, and Cosmic Charlie.

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