Hundreds gathered at Kiwanis Park in Tempe on Saturday, November 3rd for Amnesty International’s Tempe 2nd Annual Localpalooza — and all for one cause: human rights.

Amnesty International, according to its website, “is a global movement of more than three million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights.” And its Tempe chapter’s second annual Localpalooza not only doubled its attendance from last year’s Localpalooza, but, according to Scott Henderson, the Amnesty International Tempe (AIT) group coordinator, the event accomplished its ultimate goal of raising awareness.

“Whenever we get one, two, three, or maybe even 400 people coming to our event, the word is getting out!” Henderson says. “That’s great for our group, and great for Amnesty International, and great for the fight for human rights. We got many signatures on petitions and action letters. Every one of those makes a difference. And we, as a group, learned a lot about how to organize an event like this.”

Local artists who performed at the “Sister Cities” Garden Amphitheater included The Sugar Thieves, Japhy’s Descent, Prague, Blaine Long and Robby Roberson with Michael Mulryan. Food trucks were also present, as well as a beer garden, and activities for all ages, including a Kid’s Corner.

“Everyone who came just really loved it,” Henderson says. “It’s so fun for people to have an afternoon with great music, a great cause, and good food and drink — yet more intimate and relaxed than events held at bigger venues like Tempe Beach Park. Seriously, the only complaint any member of our group heard was, ‘It should have gone on longer!'”

The event was organized by Glenda Ramirez, who Henderson says was the cornerstone of the group, the person who made the event possible.

“[Ramirez] led the Localpalooza planning team on just about everything,” Henderson says. “She found the bands, contracted the sound system, helped with city permits and did marketing and the biggest chunk of the ground work in many areas! There would not have been any ‘palooza without her!”

Up next on AIT’s event calendar? Global Write-A-Thon 2012. The chapter is inviting all to “write for rights” during this event that it calls “the biggest human rights event of the year,” according to its website. For more information about the Global Write-A-Thon 2012, visit AIT’s website.

Amnesty International’s Tempe 2nd Annual Localpalooza

Robby Roberson and Michael Mulryan were just two of the musicians on the Localpalooza for Human Rights line-up. Here’s what they had to say about the event:

Video by Kristine Cannon

For more information about Amnesty International Tempe, visit aitempeaz.org.