Amnesty International, Eastern PA

You are invited to a special event in Media PA - the Philadelphia area Global Write-a-thon! It will be held on Sunday, December 9, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Media Community Center, 301 N. Jackson St., Media.

In recognition of International Human Rights day, we will join thousands of people across the United States and all around the world as they participate in Amnesty International’s Global Write-A-Thon - Amnesty’s largest and most renowned letter-writing event.

Now you can register online if you plan to come to the Write-a-thon. Please register - this will help us be prepared with enough letter-writing materials (and food) for all!

Here are some of the other surprises we are working on for this event.

• Philadelphia attorney Susan L. Burke will speak to us about her work on lawsuits filed on behalf of Abu Ghraib torture victims as well as victims of the Blackwater shootings in Baghdad.
• Kathleen Lucas will tell us the story of her friend, Sameh Khouzam. Sameh, a member of AI York Group 438 and subject of an Urgent Action, fled religious persecution and torture in Egypt and sought asylum in the U.S. Instead he has been imprisoned in York and is at risk of deportation. Sameh’s life is in danger if he is returned to Egypt. Come and help us write letters and cards both to him and on his behalf.
• Musical entertainment - details soon…
• Children’s activity - you are invited to bring your family!
• Refreshments - again, details soon…

Here are some general directions to Media. The community center is in the municipal building at Third and North Jackson streets, and there is a parking lot adjacent. It’s a few blocks from the Jackson Street trolley stop, and a little over half a mile from the Media SEPTA station (R3 line). If you are coming by train, let us know and we can help provide a lift from the station to the community center, if needed.

Sunday, December 9, 2007
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Media Community Center
301 N. Jackson Street
Media, PA

Tuesday, December 11, 2007
7:00 pm

1032 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA

Philadelphia area Amnesty International chapters are planning an event for the Global Write-a-thon! It will be held on Sunday, December 9, 1:00 - 4:30 pm, at the Community Center at 301 N. Jackson St. in Media, PA. Please save the date and invite a friend!

Here’s more information about the Global Write-a-thon.

We are working on having music, inspiring speakers, refreshments, and childrens’ activities at the Write-a-thon. I hope to have more details for you in the days and weeks ahead. Would you be willing to help us with this event, either before or on the day of the Write-a-thon? Please send a message to april@amnestyeastpa.org.

2007 Write-a-thon Save the Date Flyer

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:00 pm
Lehigh University - Perella Auditorium, Rauch Business Center room 184, Bethlehem PA

From Karen:
Tomorrow at 7 pm (Tuesday, November 13), the Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations will lecture at Lehigh University on his views on Darfur, namely that there is no genocide. The lecture will be held in Perella Auditorium, located in Rauch Business Center room 184. Rauch is on the SE corner of Taylor and East Packer Avenue. It is next to the Zoellner Auditorium.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is working on the case of Maher Arar. From the CCR website: “Arar v. Ashcroft is a federal lawsuit challenging the rendition by the U.S. government of a Canadian citizen to Syria, where he was tortured, forced to falsely confess, and released after one year without ever being charged.” (Full report)

Amnesty International USA: “[Maher Arar] reports he was held alone in a tiny, basement cell without light, which he called “the grave”, for more than 10 months. A small grate in the ceiling opened up into a hallway above. Through it cats and rats urinated on him. There was no furniture in the cell, only two blankets on the floor. He had no exposure to natural light for the first six months.” (Full report)

Maher Arar has a hearing tomorrow morning, November 9 at 9:30 am at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Pearl Street and Centre Street, downtown Manhattan. A CCR Board member will be arguing on his behalf. CCR urges those who are able to attend the hearing and show their support.

For those of us who can’t be in Manhattan, tune in to CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360º tonight, Thursday, November 8, at 10 pm EST, to see an interview with Maher Arar and his wife Monia, who has worked tirelessly on his behalf.

Friday, November 9, 2007
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

007 Willard Hall Education Building

Human Rights Film Festival
Films: “Books Not Bars”, “Waiting for Quds”
Free and open to the public.

Thursday, November 8, 2007
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

007 Willard Hall Education Building

Human Rights Film Festival
Films: “The Price of Youth”, “The Day My God Died”
Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

007 Willard Hall Education Building

Human Rights Film Festival
Films: “Lest We Forget”, “Punjabi Cab”, “Crossing the Line”
Free and open to the public.

Apologies for the short notice, but I just found out about this and wanted to share it in case there’s still time for you to attend.

The University of Delaware Amnesty International chapter is holding a film festival entitled “Bare Witness…To Human Rights.” This has been going on since Monday, but the films yet to be shown are:

• Wednesday, November 7 - Theme “Terror” - “Lest We Forget,” “Punjabi Cab” and “Crossing the Line”.
• Thursday, November 8 - Theme “Children” - “The Price of Youth” and “The Day My God Died.”
• Friday, November 9 - Theme “Hope” - “Books not Bars” and “Waiting for Quds.”

All films are 7:00 - 9:00 pm in Willard Hall 007. Free and open to the public.

Film Festival Flyer