Weekly Action and News 16/06/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
The week of 19th-25th June is Refugee Week. As well as our own Refugee Week work (see first item below) we have been informed of various events in Manchester which may be of interest to members. Please see document “Refugee Week” attached to this email.
Our weekly action this week is very simple. Vulnerable, desperate people arrive in the UK on small boats because for the vast majority of them, there is no other way to come. The Illegal Migration bill going through parliament seeks to criminalise these people and to deny their rights to seek refuge. Please watch the short video produced by Care4Calais demanding #safepassage for refugees, then share it widely.
Forthcoming Manchester Amnesty events. Volunteers needed!
More volunteers needed to help with our Refugee Week work on 24th /25th June!
We will be hanging fabric hearts, handing out information and talking to people in several of the beautiful gardens open to the public for Chorlton Open Gardens
If you could spare an hour or two to help out on either of the days, please let Alison Wearden know (alison.wearden@gmail.com).
Amnesty’s campaign – Israeli Apartheid against the Palestinians.
On Saturday 1st July, lunchtime/early afternoon (time to be confirmed), we will have a
Street Action in Exchange Square Manchester to publicise the Israeli Apartheid campaign.
We will be displaying photos and speaking to passers-by about the issues.
Information is available to help you to know what to say!
If you would like to join in, please contact Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
We are looking for members to help at a
Manchester Amnesty stall on Sunday 9th July at the Sparkle weekend.
Sparkle is billed as the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity – see this link: https://www.sparkle.org.uk/
Everybody is welcome, whether members of the LGBTQ+ community or not.
Please contact Zoe Wong if you can help or want more information weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
After the huge success of our combined Manchester-Liverpool Amnesty COP28/UAE-focused stall at the Didsbury Festival on 10th June, we are looking for volunteers to help out when we have a similar stall on 16th July at the Arab Art festival in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
The block printing of slogans and designs onto pre-loved teeshirts was really popular and created a great opportunity to talk to people about climate rights and human rights. If you can make it for a few hours, you are guaranteed to have fun at this family-friendly event! Lifts may be available.
Please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you want to go bussk@btinternet.com,
We are looking for a member to take over the management of our Instagram account.
If you are interested, please contact alison.wearden@gmail.com or hazelerrey@gmail.com
Amnesty International UK hybrid AGM (in person/online) is on Saturday 24th June.
There is still time to book a place if you are an individual member of AIUK.
Our resolution O1 calling for AIUK to investigate the use of Joint Enterprise & Conspiracy laws and racists narratives in court against people of colour will be debated in the afternoon.
Please let Hazel hazelerrey@gmail.com know if you plan to attend online and whether you want to be part of a whatsapp group of Manchester members attending the AGM.
Invitation from Stockport Amnesty
Manchester Amnesty members are invited to join the Stockport group meeting on Thursday September 14th. Nabila Hanson and Rebecca Patterson will talk about Amnesty’s work in China, and about engaging with the Chinese community in Greater Manchester on this work.
At the Friends Meeting House, 91 Station Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7BG, 7:45 for 8pm start.
Good news
Iran - On May 14, 2023, Arshia Takdastan and Javad Rouhi, two protesters arrested in September 2022 and then sentenced to hang, were released on bail after the Supreme Court annulled the sentences. A third protester, Mehdi Mohammadifard, had his death sentence commuted to 10 years in prison.
Justice Poland - On 5 June 2023, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the justice reform introduced by the Warsaw government in 2019: it violates European law because it undermines the right of access to an independent and impartial judiciary.
Russia - On 6 June 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Russia to pay €40,000 in compensation to Aleksei Navalny, the dissident still in prison, for failing to investigate the circumstances and motives for the poisoning he suffered in August 2020.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com Kathryn wishes to step down as craftivism coordinator so if you would like to take on this role, please let her know.
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 area, 2-4pm 4th Saturdays 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
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.
- Downloads
- Refugee Week events in Manchester.docx
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