Programme overview
Description
A Conspiracy of Hope was a short tour of six benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International that took place in the United States during June 1986. The purpose of the tour was not to raise funds but rather to increase awareness of human rights and of Amnesty's work on its 25th anniversary, and to invite a new generation take action to free prisoners of conscience.
Captured here is the last show from that tour, performed to a sold-out Giants Stadium, New Jersey, USA. This was an all day event, televised in it's entirety on MTV, bringing together the stars of music and film of 1986, including Bryan Adams, U2 continuing their stadium prowess from Live Aid and a very special, just-for-this-concert, reunion of The Police with a very special collaboration with Bono.
One month after the tour, the membership of Amnesty International in the United States had increased by 45,000 members. Concert-goers had been asked to send appeals for freedom on behalf of six prisoners of conscience, two of whom were released within months after the tour.
This 60' special is one of a trio of concerts also including Human Rights Now and The Struggle Continues.
"Human Rights performance" photo courtesy of Amnesty International. Credit: Ken Regan/Neal Preston. (c) and All Rights Reserved.