Hello, friends!

Joey here.

Kangaroo Court Puppet. Symbol of the scarcity of justice for refugees. Supporter of Human Rights First.

Since I left for Iowa in 2011 on the first annual Ride for Human Rights, my chauffeur Jeffrey has pedaled me over 12,000 miles (almost 20,000 km) to 39 of the Lower 48 United States.

We have met and learned from thousands of people, and have introduced them to things they didn’t know about U.S. asylum law and the nature of refugees.

In March 2019, we left our bike in Seattle . . .

. . . intending to return in spring 2020 to continue our tour of America. The pandemic stymied us.

In 2020 and 2021, we stayed local, cycling in northern New York State and in New York City and environs, meeting our neighbors and exploring local cultures and history.

Now the pandemic is in remission.

On April 14, 2022, we’ll reunite with our long-haul bike. A few days later, we’ll start a 1,300 mile cycling journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Wasatch Range, through Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, to Utah, the 43rd state on our tour of the Lower 48.

As on our 11 previous Rides, every night that we’re on the road, we’ll publish an illustrated essay about the places we see and the people we meet.

Follow our journey at RideForHumanRights.org.

And if you’re so moved, help us promote human rights and safety for refugees fleeing Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Guatemala, and other places of suffering and persecution. Donate to Human Rights First. (The “2021” donation page at the link is on the IT department’s ”update” list. Your donation will be credited to the 2022 Ride.)

We’ll reach out again soon.