Testimony from new HPA member

Many of you know from my liveblogging that I recently spoke at Pledge 2 Protect: the largest anti-genocide conference in history. At the conference I met so many wonderful people, artists and student activists who are getting involved with the HPA and our future work. Among them was a first year college student named Ashlee. Ashlee is someone whose intelligence, passion, and enthusiasm is contagious and I am very excited that she will be joining us soon. I was so incredibly honored and humbled to have her write us the following, reminding how much our work does to bring more people into the work of important human rights activism:

“July of 2007 was a momentous month for the Harry Potter fan community. As fans of J.K. Rowling’s series, we saw the emotional debut of the last book and the premiere of the fifth installment in the synonymous film adaptations. But for me, July 2007 has even more significance. As I made my usual rounds around Harry Potter fan sites, I came across the Harry Potter Alliance and their first podcast. As I was in the height of Potter mania, I listened to the podcast simply because of its association with the book series. By the time I had finished listening, my entire perspective on the world had changed. Through the podcast, I discovered the horrendous genocide occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan. I couldn’t believe that these atrocities had been taking place since 2003, and that I’d known nothing about it. The Harry Potter Alliance’s determination to be the Dumbledore’s Army for the real world inspired me to action like nothing ever has, and I’ve been a devoted member of the anti-genocide movement since listening to the podcast in July of 2007. I’m writing now at Pledge2Protect, the largest anti-genocide conference in history, and its incredible to think I would never have been here without the HPA. Without the HPA’s amazing work, I wouldn’t have even known about the plight of people halfway across the world, much less be attending a conference devoted to improving their situation. Six years since mass atrocities began to occur in Darfur, the fight to end genocide is far from over. Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burma are escalating as well, and at times it seems impossible that crimes against humanity will ever stop. But with organizations such as the Harry Potter Alliance working to stop these atrocities, I have faith that one day our world will be genocide free. One day, we can all live in a world of acceptance and peace, if we care for our fellow human beings and embrace the ideals set forth by the wonderful Harry Potter Alliance.”