Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News

Please do this action and make a difference

The week of 19^th-25^th 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.

TAKE ACTION

Forthcoming Manchester Amnesty events. Volunteers needed!

More volunteers needed to help with our Refugee Week work on 24^th /25^th 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 1^st 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 9^th 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 10^th June, we are looking for volunteers to help out when we have a similar stall on 16^th 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 24^th 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 14^th. 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 4^th 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

Alison Wearden 

Communications Secretary 

Manchester Group of Amnesty International 

alison.wearden@gmail.com 

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.