NIU Amnesty International is currently accepting tapes from local bands for “Jamnesty,” a concert Amnesty will sponsor on April 23 at Hopkins Park.

AI-NIU President Donna Lundstrom said the event will include five local bands and a few brief speakers. Local bands are encouraged to submit tapes for screening to the Amnesty committee, she said.

“The event will enlighten people to what we are doing here at NIU,” Lundstrom said.

AI-NIU intends to get a local radio station to cover the event she said.

She said she hopes a lot of people attend and a lot of letters get written.

“Basically it will be a day to have fun, while addressing a very serious issue,” Lundstrom said.

She said the event will run from noon until dusk and also might feature singers from the NIU Black Student Choir. There will be food and drinks served, although no alcohol will be permitted, she said.

“The bands will not be paid because the event will probably be free of charge, but we hope to generate some revenue in the form of donations to pay for the postal charges for letters,” Lundstrom said.

“We will have Amnesty booths setup with literature and buttons, as well as letter writing stations,” she said.

AI Treasurer Leanne Frijdrychowicz said “Jamnesty will be a lot of fun for us because we work hard the rest of the year. Hopefully we will promote awareness about Amnesty, as well.”

A mock jail cell and other props will be setup at the jamboree to demonstrate the plight of millions of oppressed people world-wide, Lundstrom said.