Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News 23/02/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
The UK is the only country in Europe without a time limit on the detention of people in the immigration system. While the people detained in them have committed no crime, immigration detention centres look and operate like prisons. Often, people are held in small cells with barred windows, where they are locked in for several hours during the day and at night. With no knowledge of when they may be released it is not surprising that rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD among detainees are soaring.
In September 2023, a public inquiry revealed horrific, hidden abuse by staff against people held at the Brook House detention centre. 19 incidents of abuse were potentially in violation of laws forbidding torture and inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
The inquiry called for a 28 day time limit on detention. Instead, the government is taking steps to detain even greater numbers of people for even longer, creating new detention centres and even proposing to detain children for longer periods. If you want a time limit on detention, sign the action below by Detention Action
I Want an End to Indefinite Detention (detentionaction.org.uk)
If anyone would like a transcript of the excellent talk given to the group by Pete Weatherby KC at our February meeting, please email alison.wearden@gmail.com and I will send it you.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 23rd February, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library
Please dress warmly, wear black/dark colours
and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages and tealights. Feel free to bring your friends.
We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.
The next meeting of the North West Amnesty Group will take place online
Tuesday 27th February at 7pm.
Eilidh Macpherson, AIUK Individuals at Risk Campaign Manager,
will be joining the meeting to outline how Individuals at Risk work is organised and to tell us about the different ways that groups can get involved.
If you would like to attend the meeting, please email Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com or Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com for the zoom link.
Two FREE events relating to International Women’s Day/Week celebrations.
Saturday 2nd March 12-4pm at the Mechanics Institute on Princess Street, M1 6DD
to mark 100 years since Mancunian Ellen Wilkinson was elected to the Commons
Ellen24: Parliament’s Fiery Particle.
Featuring the Margaret Ashton lecture by Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP.
Tickets here
Saturday 9th March, 10am-12 noon, Manchester Central Library
Prior to the Walk for Women through Manchester City Centre
Trailblazers Celebration: Women of Greater Manchester
Tickets here
We will have Manchester Amnesty stalls in the foyer at the Mechanics Institute from 12-4pm on 2nd March, and in the Library from 10am-12noon on 9th March.
Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you can help out at either of these stalls (even if only for a short time)
Non-Amnesty events
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Commemorate the 12000+ Palestinian children who have been killed,
and protest against biased media coverage of events in Gaza
Saturday 24th February 1pm, outside the BBC,
Media City, Salford Quays, M50 2LH
Children and families welcome. Children will lead the march.
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar (junction Upper Chorlton Rd/Moss Lane East/Withington Rd)
Please support these events, but please do not take Amnesty banners.
Saturday 2 March 2024 December at 7pm
Rethink Rebuild Society
invites you to a screening of the film
Gaza (2019), directed by Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell, followed by an open discussion
Free from the cliché of news reportage, this is a beautiful portrait of Gaza’s ordinary people who attempt to lead meaningful lives.
Please arrive on time as the screening will start at 7.15pm promptly.
At: Rethink Rebuild Society (the Syrian Community of Manchester), First Floor, Discovery House, Crossley Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester SK4 5BH. Tickets available here.
Good news
Netherlands - On February 12, 2024, a court order stopped the supply of parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in attacks on the Gaza Strip. The ruling was in response to the complaint brought by several human rights organizations that the supplies had facilitated Israel's violations
Greece - On February 15, 2024, the parliament of Greece approved the law recognizing marriage equality and allowing adoptions for same-sex couples. Greece is thus the twenty-first European state to provide for marriage equality.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey Fatih Segmen - fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK Lancine Sacko - sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins) - Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Manchester Central Library café, 2-4pm 4th Saturdays January, March, May, July, September, November
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Refugees – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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