Prisoners of conscience, deprived of their basic human rights and tortured needlessly, will be heard through poems they have written Friday at Amnesty International-NIU’s reading.

About 50 poems, representing such countries as El Salvador, Hungary, the Soviet Union, the United States and South Africa, will be read by Joe Gastiger, Susan Stemont, Rick Amesquit, Dave Williams, and Becky Parfitt, local poets.

The poems, “cries for help,” will focus on the messages of “survival, consolation of poetry in an otherwise horrific environment, and, of course, suffering,” said AI-NIU President Donna Lundstrom.

The readings, intended to “bring awareness about human rights to the community,” will be presented at Espacio Cinco, 1021 State St. in DeKalb at 8:00 p.m. at a $2 fee, Lundstrom said. The #2 Huskie Bus can be taken to Pleasant and 10th, streets, arriving one block south of the location. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Prisoners, or non-criminals, “held unjustly” in other countries have been “tortured, jailed and (brought) close to death because of their race, color, religion, language—all violations of basic human rights,” Lundstrom said.

AI-NIU fights to free these prisoners by writing letters and telegrams to ambassadors and presidents.

Two types of letters, “depending on what’s needed,” are employed, Lundstrom said. Freedom writers are sent information regarding prisoners who are not in immediate danger of death, torture, or disappearance, as opposed to urgent actions where AI-NIU’s help is needed for prisoners in crucial situations.

Torture exists in many forms. “Children are tortured in front of their parents to make the parents talk,” Lundstrom said.

“If someone came to an AI-NIU meeting, they’d be motivated to get involved,” Lundstrom said. The group’s meetings are every other Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. in Room 305 of the Holmes Student Center. The next meeting, Nov.8, will feature guest speaker Debbie Heyward from the regional office in Chicago. Heyward will discuss abolition of the death penalty, the focus of AI this year, Lunstrom said.

AI-NIU’s approximately 40 members held a Halloween bake sale that provided funding for envelopes, stamps, and xeroxing. A $1.50 bumper sticker and $1 button are still available from AI-NIU.