Weekly Action and News 17/11/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
This week’s action is one of the cases in the 2023 Write for Rights Campaign.
Rocky Myers, 62, has spent nearly three decades on death row in the state of Alabama, USA. A Black man, he was convicted of murder of his white neighbour by an all-white jury. This was despite a complete lack of evidence against him. His case is riddled with failures of due process. Mr Myers has learning difficulties which were not taken into account when he missed a deadline to appeal against his sentence. The lawyer who had been assigned to him abandoned the case without notice. A key prosecution witness recanted his testimony, later admitting that he had lied when giving evidence. Despite all this, Mr Myer’s death sentence could be carried out within months unless the governor of Alabama grants him clemency. Click on the link below, and all you will have to do is add your name and email address in order to send a pre-prepared email to the Governor.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Fifth Silent vigil calling for a ceasefire
and the protection of civilians in Israel and Gaza
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 17th November, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library (near the recently erected Father Christmas)
Look for the Manchester Amnesty yellow banner.
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.
Further actions on Gaza are listed under “Non-Amnesty events” below.
Sunday,19th November,
BMHC, College Road, M16 8BP
The British Muslim Heritage Centre together with Islamic Relief and Manchester Amnesty are holding an emergency fundraising dinner to contribute towards humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Manchester Amnesty member Mike Reed will be speaking. All of our members are invited.
It would be great to have a Manchester Amnesty presence at the event. Please support it if you can.
Advance tickets available here
Many thanks to Liz Hibberd for her great talk about City of Sanctuary awards at our meeting last Monday. Please contact alison.wearden@gmail.com for a link to her presentation slides.
Write for Rights 2023
Every year, Amnesty International run Write for Rights over November and December when we are encouraged to write messages of support to people around the world who have suffered injustice, and to send appeals of their behalf. This year’s campaign features 10 cases, including Ahmed Mansoor, in the UAE, for whom we have campaigned since he was arrested in 2017.
You can find out more and download the campaign booklet at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2023-get-started
You can take part at home but better still, come along to our drop-in session at Central Library, Saturday 25th November 2-4pm, to the Whalley Range Peace and Justice event during the afternoon of Saturday 2nd December at St Margaret’s Church, and to our December group meeting Monday December 11th 6-80m at Central Library. It’s always more fun to do things together!
We are also running stalls to encourage members of the public to take part in Write for Rights. We need volunteers to help, at least 2 people per shift - preferably more. Can you help?
Volunteers needed!
Manchester Cathedral Stall ̴ Wednesday 22nd November
Stall shifts 10-12, 12-2 or 2-4.
People’s History Museum
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December
Stall shifts 11-12.30, 12.30-2 or 2-4
If you can help, email anne.walker9@ntlworld.com NOW,
indicating your preferred date and time.
The next Acoustic Amnesty fundraiser gig
will take place on Friday 8th December, 7.30 pm at our regular venue,
Sacred Trinity Church, Salford M3 7WQ (close to Manchester City Centre)
We will be raising funds for Amnesty and Safe Passage International https://www.safepassage.org.uk/
There will be 6 performers - Tom Blackwell, Clive Mellor and Mark Greer, Lucy Hope, Ian Daniel/Leslie poet, Robin Mukherjee and the Open Voice Choir.
Tickets available here
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/594143 [wegottickets.com]
Non-Amnesty events
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine
Saturday, 18th November, 12 noon, Whitworth Park, Oxford Road, M14 4PW
Demonstration and March “Hands off Gaza”
Wednesday, 25th November, 4:30-5:30pm, Brooks Bar, Manchester, M16 7RN
Vigil: We stand with Palestine #Ceasefire now
As always, please do support these events, but please do not take Amnesty placards.
Good news
Colombia - On November 3, 2023, after a 15-year campaign led by the "mothers of Soacha", the government admitted responsibility and apologized for the murder of 19 civilians posing as rebel fighters in March 2008 in Soacha, Santander department.
Turkey - On November 6, 2023, Tolga Sardan, an investigative journalist arrested on November 1 under the new "disinformation" law for writing an article on corruption in the judiciary for the independent news portal T24, was released.
Australia - On November 8, 2023, the High Court, overturning two decades of previous rulings, ruled that the indefinite detention of migrants is illegal and unconstitutional.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com next meeting 4th October, contact Hazel for link
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 November, January, March, May, July
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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