Weekly Action and News 01/11/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Last week, ITV censored a t-shirt displaying a watermelon in the shape of a map of historic Palestine, worn by Big Brother contestant Ali Bromley during the programme. While the t-shirt was visible in the original broadcast, the episode was removed from ITV’s online on-demand service and reuploaded with the symbol removed. The channel then issued an apology for originally displaying the t-shirt, insinuating it fell foul of its prohibition on “personal items” which could be “deemed harmful.”
Especially in the context of the ongoing assault on the Palestinian people, this censorship of a symbol of Palestinian national identity must not go unchallenged. By apologising for displaying the watermelon, ITV has provided unjustified credibility to those who falsely claim that expressions of Palestinian identity constitute antisemitic prejudice or hatred. Such a suggestion is a form of anti-Palestinian racism that should not be given legitimacy by a national broadcaster.
Write to Ofcom and demand it investigates and forces ITV to apologise for this censorship.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 1st November, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages, and tea-lights. Feel free to bring your friends.
Our November monthly group meeting will be online on Monday 11th November at 7pm.
We will have updates on all our campaigns, news about forthcoming actions and events, plus some discussion of succession planning as various roles become vacant. Everyone is welcome, including new members. Further details, an agenda and a zoom link will be circulated nearer the time.
Amnesty North West Regional Conference, Action for Human Rights
10-4pm, Saturday, 23rd November. Registration is now open!
All welcome. Book your place here.
Action for Human Rights (wegottickets.com)
Non-Amnesty events and actions
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
On the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration we demand an end to genocide
Demonstration, Saturday, 2nd November, 12 noon, St Peter’s Square.
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Levenshulme Peace and Justice for Palestine All out for Palestine
Each Thursday, 5-6pm, Levenshulme Village Green, junction of Stockport Rd & Chapel St
Tuesday, 12th November, 7pm prompt, Klondyke Club, 1 Burnage Range, M
Palestinian Film night. 2 shorts: The Present and Gaza - One Football, One Leg. Book here
Strings of Solidarity: An Evening of Folk Music for FALASTIN (Palestine)
Saturday, 16th November, Doors open 7pm | Programme: 7.30pm – 10pm
Friezland Church Hall, Church Road, Greenfield, OL3 7LQ
£12/£20 In aid of Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund. More information here.
The Amos Trust Christmas Tour is in Manchester on 3rd December – Ascension Church Hulme
An evening of music, film, poetry and conversation – all proceeds to support work in Gaza.
More details and book your place here
Freedom from Torture
Manchester Quiz
Sunday 10th November, St. John’s Parish Centre, High Lane, Chorlton, M21 9EE
3.00 pm (doors open at 2.30). Teams or individuals. Entry by donation (suggested £5)
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to a screening of
Hijabi (2024), by Samir Mehanovic,
a film about 5 British women who wear the hijab, and their experiences of Islamophobia.
The film (PG, in English) will be followed by a panel discussion.
Saturday 16th November 2024, 7pm-9:30pm. Rethink Rebuild Society, SK4 5BH
More information and reserve your place here.
Good news
United States of America - On October 24, 2024, the Supreme Court of the state of Kentucky unanimously rejected an appeal by the Department of Prisons against the ruling issued by the same court in 2010 by which all executions had been suspended. The state’s Supreme Court decision referred to concerns about the mental health conditions of those sentenced to death and the protocol used to administer the lethal injection.
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 volunteer needed
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker and Sara Baptista anne.walker9@ntlworld.com, sarabm6@gmail.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK [amnesty.org.uk] (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc [twitter.com] (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group [facebook.com]
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] (managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.com)
Alison Wearden
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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