American Anti-Slavery Group
Encyclopedia
The American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG) is a non profit coalition of abolitionist organizations that engages 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 to forward their efforts. AASG'
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
.
Incorporated in Newton, Massachusetts
, the AASG reports having "many associates and 30,000 members around the world." Recent officers include: Mohamed Athie (past president) and Charles Jacobs
(past clerk and treasurer; current president and member of board of directors).
The AASG maintains close ties to The Sudan Campaign, for which Charles Jacobs
serves as a co-chairman.
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Women and children are the ideal target of these raids. Once captured, the women and children are forced into labor, religious conversion, severe beatings, and genital mutilation. These are the tragic, but true realities of the civil war and trade industry in Sudan.
Francis Bok was a victim of the Sudan slave industry. He miraculously escaped and has converted his heroic and life augmenting story into a modern day slave narrative. The title of his work is: Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America. Today, Bok speaks to numerous audiences around the US educating people about the modern day slave industry and recounts his experiences as a modern day slave.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
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 to forward their efforts. AASG'
The AASG was co-founded in 1994 by Charles Jacobs
Charles Jacobs (political activist)
Charles Jacobs is the co-founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group , which campaigns against slavery worldwide, and a co-chairman of The Sudan Campaign , a coalition calling for an end to slavery in Sudan...
(who served as its first research director) with African human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activists Mohamed Athie of Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
and David Chand of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Incorporated in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, the AASG reports having "many associates and 30,000 members around the world." Recent officers include: Mohamed Athie (past president) and Charles Jacobs
Charles Jacobs (political activist)
Charles Jacobs is the co-founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group , which campaigns against slavery worldwide, and a co-chairman of The Sudan Campaign , a coalition calling for an end to slavery in Sudan...
(past clerk and treasurer; current president and member of board of directors).
The AASG maintains close ties to The Sudan Campaign, for which Charles Jacobs
Charles Jacobs (political activist)
Charles Jacobs is the co-founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group , which campaigns against slavery worldwide, and a co-chairman of The Sudan Campaign , a coalition calling for an end to slavery in Sudan...
serves as a co-chairman.
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."
Modern Day Slavery
By the numbers, it is estimated that some 13 million possible souls crossed the Atlantic during the slave trade. In its brutality, those numbers are unfortunate and staggeringly high. But the major disappointment is that in modern society human trafficking and slavery are still at an all time high. It is estimated that some 27 million people internationally are enslaved as of today.Politics
On June 4, 2008 the U.S. released a trafficking in persons report. In this report Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated, "Trafficking and exploitation plague all nations, and no country, even ours, is immune."Slavery in Sudan
The conditions of slavery in Sudan are doubly edged. The fact that slavery exists there is terrible in itself, but the terroristic regimes in Sudan's government support the trade and exploitation of its own people. Because Sudan is plagued constantly by civil wars and fighting among neighbors, the victims are taken and forced into chattel slavery. Victims include mainly women and children, who are abducted during raids by the military. It being located on the eastern coast of Africa, Sudan escaped much of the Atlantic Slave Trade horrors, but for centuries Sudan has established itself in the trade of their own people.Women and children are the ideal target of these raids. Once captured, the women and children are forced into labor, religious conversion, severe beatings, and genital mutilation. These are the tragic, but true realities of the civil war and trade industry in Sudan.
Francis Bok was a victim of the Sudan slave industry. He miraculously escaped and has converted his heroic and life augmenting story into a modern day slave narrative. The title of his work is: Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America. Today, Bok speaks to numerous audiences around the US educating people about the modern day slave industry and recounts his experiences as a modern day slave.
How AASG Helps
The AASG helps to educate people about the horrors of modern day slavery. But getting this information broadcast and published is expensive. AASG takes donations called, "gifts of freedom", which fund slave liberations annually. Aid missions feed, clothe, educate, and liberate the victims of slavery on a case by case basis. But with numbers so staggering, far more aid is needed.External links
- American Anti-Slavery Group Profile at ArriveNet. [Some of the website links are outdated.]
- iAbolish — Web Portal of the American Anti-Slavery Group
- Freeing Modern-Day Slaves: Program 15 Interview with Charles JacobsCharles Jacobs (political activist)Charles Jacobs is the co-founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group , which campaigns against slavery worldwide, and a co-chairman of The Sudan Campaign , a coalition calling for an end to slavery in Sudan...
, produced by Human Media [catalog entry]. - The Sudan Campaign