Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News

 

Please do these actions and make a difference

 

This week’s first action is a petition calling on the government to create a visa scheme which would allow Palestinians affected by the war to apply to come to live in the UK. So far almost 50000 people have signed this petition. When the number of signatories reaches 100000, the government will have to debate it in parliament. You can increase the petition’s chances by tweeting about it – see this google document for suggested tweets.

 

TAKE ACTION

 

 

This week’s second action is a letter prepared by War on Want, asking your MP to call on the government to end trade deals which allow it to sell arms to Israel. You can access the letter by clicking the link below, and send it to your MP as it is, or you can modify it.

 

TAKE ACTION

 

 

Our April group meeting will take place in person on

Monday 8^th April, 6pm, third-floor meeting room, Manchester Central Library.

We will be discussing two documents from the Amnesty Futures Initiative, and deciding how we as a group wish to respond to them. Document 1 sets out the Initiative’s objectives and Document 2 is a set of resolutions prepared by the Initiative for the Amnesty AGM in June. Both documents are attached to this email. We will also have an update on all our other work. All are welcome, including new members. We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

There will be an online meeting of the Craftivism Group on Tuesday, 2^nd April at 7pm.

Come and discuss your ideas for creative and crafty ways to enhance all of our campaigns!

All are welcome – no prior experience needed.

Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you would like the zoom link.

 

 

 

MANCHESTER LAUNCH OF AMNESTY’S PREVENT STRATEGY

 Amnesty International UK in conjunction with Manchester Amnesty

Saturday 6^th April 2-4.30pm Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, M2 5NS

Amnesty UK’s new report “This is the Thought Police” on the government’s Prevent strategy

Relevant stakeholders have been invited. More information, and tickets available here.

Book now as places are limited and registration will close on Thursday, 4^th April at 10am.

You can read the Prevent report here

 

 

Manchester Amnesty Group - Weekly vigil for Palestine and Israel

 

We are most grateful for your continuing loyal support for our weekly vigil.

 

THERE WILL BE NO VIGIL ON GOOD FRIDAY, 29 MARCH

 

We will resume on Friday 5 April starting as usual at 5pm.

We will review the situation in the light of any changes such as a ceasefire being agreed.

 

RUN FOR RIGHTS!

AIUK are looking for people to take part in Run for Rights on 13^th October at various events including the inaugural Manchester Half Marathon, which starts at Old Trafford cricket ground. The aim is to raise funds and awareness about Human Rights in the UK. To take part, you will need to raise at least £350 and should apply for a place soon. This link explains what to do.

 

AIUK have put out a call for nominations (including self nominations) for the roles of regional activism reps. You can find out about the role and how to nominate here.

 

Ahead of the anticipated General Election in the UK, AIUK have published a new

Human Rights Manifesto, outlining Amnesty’s demands for human rights-based approaches in both foreign and home affairs. You can access all the documents here.

 

 

Non-Amnesty events

 

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations

Palestine Land Day

Demonstration on Saturday 30th March, 12 noon, Piccadilly Gardens

Commemorating a mass uprising on 30^th March 1976 in protest at the confiscation of Palestinian land, and remembering the lives lost on that day.

 

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.

 

 

Material Power Palestinian Embroidery exhibition

continues at the Whitworth Art Gallery until April 7^th. FREE (donations to gallery welcome).

The exhibition charts the evolution of embroidery in Palestine over the past century: from rich village tradition, transformed by modernity, to its politicisation in the 1970s and commodification in the present. Over the last 75 years, embroidery has become a powerful symbol of resistance, and the embodiment of resilience on personal and national scales. The beautiful exhibits are on display in the UK for the first time in over 30 years.

 

 

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE – THE NEIGHBOUR MOVEMENT

What are the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers?

A day of engagement and discussion with local communities.

Saturday 13 April, 10:00-17:00, St Aidan's Centre, 230a Wythenshawe Road, M23 0PH

More information and register here.

 

 

VOICES OF RESILIENCE

A celebration of Gazan writing

HOME Manchester, Tuesday, 22^nd April 7pm

With performances by Kamila Shamsie, Maxine Peake, Kingsley Ben-Adir and many others.

Get your tickets here.

 

Good news

 

Democratic Republic of Congo - On March 18, 2024, journalist Stanis Bujakera, a correspondent for the magazine "Jeune Afrique" and the news agency "Reuters", was released. He had been arrested in September 2023 because of an article in which military intelligence was implicated in the death of political opponent Chérubin Okende.

 

Netherlands - On March 19, 2024, with 73 votes in favor and two against, the Senate definitively approved a law, to come into force in July, introducing a consent-based definition of rape.

 

Canada - On 20 March 2024, the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador joined the other eight Canadian provinces by stating that they would no longer detain “irregular” migrants. 

 

Canada - On March 20, 2024, after a non-binding vote by parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced a halt to the supply of weapons to Israel.

 

 

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 Iona Bruce – ifbruce99@gmail.com

Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker is stepping down. Please contact her if you are interested in taking over the role anne.walker9@ntlworld.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.com

Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com

UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com

 

Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK (managed by Alison Wearden)

X/Twitter @amnestymanc  (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)

Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group

Instagram @amnestymanchester (managed by Sara Baptista -  sarabm6@gmail.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.