Amnesty International, Eastern PA

Today’s action is not a letter to print, but instead can either be sent online via Amnesty’s website or faxed. Please use the link below to ask the governor of Georgia, George Perdue, to commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.

Support clemency for Troy Davis

Last Thursday, the federal appeals court in Atlanta on Thursday rejected Troy’s request for a new trial (Amnesty’s response). He was given a 30-day stay of execution so that he can pursue an appeal before the Supreme Court.

Please act on Troy’s behalf today.

From AIUSA Website:

Troy Davis faces execution for the murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia, despite a strong claim of innocence. 7 out of 9 witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence links Davis to the crime. The Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles has voted to deny clemency, yet Governor Perdue can still exercise leadership to ensure that his death sentence is commuted. Please urge him to demonstrate respect for fairness and justice by supporting clemency for Troy Davis.

Please read this important update from Kathleen Lucas regarding Troy’s clemency hearing, and go to www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis to send your appeal today!

The GA Board of Pardons and Paroles has set a meeting for THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 12th to discuss clemency for Troy Davis. We had originally been told originally that the clemency hearing would probably be held the day before his scheduled execution. We are now almost out of time to reach the Board before their meeting. His state sponsored murder is scheduled at 7PM on Sept. 23rd. If you are in the Atlanta area, there is a huge rally planned there for tomorrow.

Action must be taken RIGHT NOW to save Troy’s life. As you probably know, Troy was convicted of shooting and killing a police officer. He was convicted solely on eye witness testimony. All but two of those witnesses have recanted and stated that they were pressured by the police to name Troy as the shooter, even those who did not actually see the shooting!

Of the remaining two, one has been implicated as the actual murderer by NINE people. The other remaining witness against Troy only testified that he remembered the color of the shoes of the shooter.

WE MUST ACT NOW! In order to get our appeals to the Parole and Pardons Board it has to be sent electronically today or tomorrow. Anything later than that and the Board will not receive it before their meeting.

As you may also know, Troy’s sister is a long time AI activist, a role she assumed as a teenager, long before the crime in question. As a mother and a sister, I beg you all to please act now by going to www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis You can send an email to the Board and find out more about Troy’s case and his sister.

Please also spread the word. AI’s server in the DC office is down and they are not able to send emails at this time. Email and call others quickly, before it is too late.

With gratitude for your help,

Kathleen Lucas
York, PA

Please act now to save the life of Troy Davis. Despite overwhelming evidence questioning his guilt, Troy is scheduled to be executed on September 23. You may take action via the Amnesty website at www.aiusa.org/troydavis or copy the simple letter below and mail it ASAP.

Thanks to our state Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator, Maria, for providing this letter.

Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4909

Dear Board Members,

I urge you, I implore you, to uphold justice and commute the death sentence of Troy Davis. The Board has stated that it “will not allow an execution to proceed in this State unless and until its members are convinced that there is no doubt as to the guilt of the accused.”

For any reasonable person looking at the facts of the case, there must be overwhelming doubt that Troy Davis is guilty of murdering Officer Mark MacPhail. There was no physical evidence implicating Troy Davis as the murderer, and the murder weapon was never found. Troy Davis was convicted solely on the basis of eyewitness testimony, and seven of the nine eyewitnesses originally accusing Mr. Davis have since recanted or changed their testimony citing police coercion. Further, one of the unrecanting witnesses has been identified by others as the actual killer.

The Board must defend Troy Davis and justice itself from the atrocity of executing an innocent man.

Sincerely,

HIGHLIGHT

Police Accountability Forum: LGBT Issues Addressed in Chicago

On June 19th, AIUSA hosted a very successful community forum on police accountability, focusing on police abuse of LGBTs in Chicago. AIUSA teamed with 20 cosponsoring local organizations to address the issue and brainstorm next steps to ignite activism demanding accountability for police abuse. 100 Chicagoans attended and participated in the forum, almost all of whom signed postcard appeals to the Mayor of Chicago.

This forum was particularly timely following a recent incident of homophobic CPD abuse against a gay man. This instance fits into a larger pattern of CPD abuse. AI’s findings in its Stonewalled report in 2006 indicate that even in serious cases of police abuse, Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers are seldom held accountable. These abuses include the use by police officers of sexually explicit and abusive language, threats, and physical violence.

Learn more about our LGBT work

TAKE ACTION

Help Free Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage

Patrick Kennedy (D, RI), has written a Dear Colleague letter to members of Congress, calling on them to sign on to a letter written to the President of Indonesia regarding the case of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage. The letter asks for Mr. Karma and Mr. Pakage to be immediately and unconditionally released from prison. They were jailed in May 2005 for raising a flag of independence.

Please call or write your representative, asking them to sign on to the letter to the President of Indonesia. Find your representative’s contact info

REMINDER: We’re nearing the end of our summer drive for petitions calling for the release of Filep and Yusak. Please return any remaining completed petitions to MARO by Friday, July 18th. We will be holding an action outside the Indonesian embassy at the end of July and will take the petitions with us. Please contact Jen Horwitz at 202.544.0200 x344 or jhorwitz@aiusa.org with any questions.

Expert Organizing Tip: Everyone loves food, so incorporate food in your next fundraiser. Have a chocolate or wine and cheese tasting. Host a dinner full of ethnic food, or just provide pizza and snacks at your event.

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

AIUSA Sues the CIA: CIA Fails to Release More Than 7000 Documents Relating to Secret Detention, Rendition, and Torture Program

On the evening of June 25th, 2008 Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), and the International Human Rights Clinic at NYU School of Law (NYU IHRC) filed a motion to require the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to make certain information public and to provide more details about all the documents withheld.

AIUSA and the partner groups are concerned about the CIA’s use of classification arguments in its attempts to prevent the disclosure of illegal or embarrassing conduct in its secret detention, torture, and rendition programs. The lawsuit was filed in June 2007 under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after repeated attempts to obtain information from the CIA had failed.

Read more about the lawsuit

OPPORTUNITIES

Regional Planning Group: Give Your Input

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) is preparing for its July monthly meeting. In an effort to connect the RPG’s work with the work that you are doing in your groups, we’d like to invite you to take a look at the notes from last month’s meeting and send any comments or suggestions to RPG co-chair Jonathan Cohen or Regional Director Folabi Olagbaju.

See the notes from last month’s call
Apply for a position on the RPG [PDF]

Summer Postcard Action: Write Prisoners of Conscience Letters of Support

For many people, summer is a time for vacations, picnics and recreation. But for prisoners of conscience or those who defend human rights in many countries, summer brings no relief from the potential danger and sense of isolation they may face. By simply sending a postcard, however, you can help support these women and men. On Amnesty’s website, there is information about some of these prisoners.

REGIONAL & NATIONAL EVENTS

Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference: Register Online!

This year activists like you will be meeting up in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia to learn more about AIUSA, network with other activists, and engage around this year’s theme: “Educate to Activate: Building a Human Rights Movement for All”.

Learn more about the conference
Register at the reduced early bird rate

LOCAL EVENTS

Burmese Scholar in York, PA

The York PA chapter of Amnesty International will be hosting Dr. Tun Lin Moe, a Burmese scholar, who will speak about human rights in his native country. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Where: Cobblestones Restaurant and Sports Emporium in the Loft, 205 South George St., York, PA, 17403
When: Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 7 PM

For more info contact: Kathleen Lucas, Co-Coordinator York Amnesty International, 717-755-3031, AmnestyYorkPA@comcast.net

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Help Plan the AGM: Be Part of the Annual General Meeting Planning Committee (AGMPC)

The AGMPC serves as the advisory committee for AGM programming, including speakers, theme, and program sessions. The AGMPC consists of one committee member from each AIUSA region, a member of the National Resolutions Committee and the Chair of AIUSA’s Board of Directors. Each regional member serves a two year term. Committee members provide input and ideas, play an important role in regional promotion of the AGM, and provide logistical support onsite.
We are currently accepting applications for the Mid-Atlantic region. For more information and a copy of the application email: agm@aiusa.org. Please submit your application by Thursday, July 24, 2008.

Help Abolish the Death Penalty in PA: Apply to be the State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator

Become a volunteer leader in Pennsylvania’s campaign towards abolishing the death penalty. We are looking for a volunteer to work with Amnesty International USA’s Death Penalty Abolish Campaign team (DPAC) and the Regional Office to coordinate AIUSA’s work against the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities include:

• Communicate with, provide information to, and facilitate work of AIUSA local and student groups, and individual AIUSA members in Pennsylvania related to the death penalty.
• Communicate with, provide information to, and work collaboratively with PA’s AIUSA State Leadership Team which is comprised of Area Coordinators, Student Area Coordinators, Legislative Coordinators, and the SDPAC.
• Serve as a liaison to relevant state-based coalitions in coordination with the Field Organizer.
• Communication with the Regional Office and DPAC in a timely fashion about death penalty related legislation and activities in Pennsylvania.
• Monitor upcoming executions and other death penalty cases -particularly those involving such factors as possible innocence, mental retardation, mental illness, or such defendants as women, LGBT, or foreign nationals – and alert the Regional Office and DPAC.

For more information (including a complete role description and outline of responsibilities), or if you are interested in applying, please contact Jen Horwitz at 202-544-0200 ext. 344 or jhorwitz@aiusa.org. Applications are due by August 8th. The applicant chosen for the position will be asked to attend the annual national training for SDPACs to be held in the Washington, DC area August 22-24.

For more resources and information for the Mid-Atlantic Region visit: www.amnestyusa.org/MARO
For questions or comments please contact us at aiusama@aiusa.org

The good news for human rights keeps on coming this week! Today, the Supreme Court ruled that Guantánamo detainees have the right to challenge their detention. I received a jubilant email from the Center for Consitutional Rights, and went to the Amnesty International USA website to confirm the news.

From the AIUSA press release: “Amnesty International hails today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in the pivotal Boumediene v. Bush case recognizing habeas corpus and declaring that the system the Bush administration and Congress have put in place to classify the detainees as ‘unlawful enemy combatants’ is inadequate.”

From AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox’s statement: “Simply put, for the third time the Court has told the Bush administration that it can’t do what it wants to at Guantanamo Bay.”

Although our work will go on, this is a day for joy and hope, and this decision is a sign that our nation is standing up to defend the fundamental human rights enshrined in its Constitution.

AIUSA Press Release
New York Times article on the decision

From Reuters:

“The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the lethal three-drug cocktail used in most U.S. executions during the past 30 years. By a 7-2 vote, the high court rejected a challenge by two Kentucky death row inmates who argued the current lethal injection method violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment by inflicting needless pain and suffering.”

Amnesty International USA responds:

Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Kentucky’s use of lethal injection, fails to address the costly, ineffective and inefficient system that places the United States at the fringes of the world community.

Figures from a new report, released by Amnesty International on Tuesday, show that more than two thirds of the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

As in previous years, the vast majority of executions worldwide were carried out in a small handful of countries. In 2007, 88 per cent of all known executions took place in five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the USA.

Statement by Larry Cox, Executive Director of AIUSA
Summary of AIUSA’s new report on the use of the death penalty worldwide

Thanks to Brendan, the death penalty abolition coordinator of Group 342, for alerting me to this news.

Friday, May 30, 2008
1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Dilworth Plaza, 1400 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia PA
Saturday, May 31, 2008
9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Dilworth Plaza, 1400 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia PA
Sunday, June 1, 2008
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Dilworth Plaza, 1400 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia PA

Experience Guantánamo in Philadelphia

Visit Amnesty International’s replica of a Guantánamo cell and join us in calling on the U.S. government to charge detainees and give them fair trials, or release them. Indefinite detention without charge or fair trial is illegal and violates American principles of justice.

There will also be a special event on Saturday, May 31st from noon to 2pm. Details are forthcoming. Free admission to the exhibit and the special event.

More about the Cell Tour

Turn flowers into power for Native American and Alaska Native women. Tell the incoming Indian Health Service (IHS) Director that we need to ensure that survivors of rape and sexual assault receive the proper healthcare they deserve.

Take Action!

1. Organic Bouquet
   For every ten emails sent, Amnesty International USA will send a flower to Robert G. McSwain, who any day now will step into the official role of IHS Director. Our goal is to fill the IHS office with so many flowers that IHS officials recognize that their actions (and lack thereof) to protect Native American women are being observed by hundreds of dedicated advocates around the country. Take meaningful action and ensure proper healthcare for Native American and Alaska Native women.
2. Get Crafty!
   A fun way to send a message for women’s human rights is to make paper and origami flowers! Get your friends together and get creative. Learn how to make flower-themed crafts and help women’s rights bloom.

I would like to belatedly draw attention to the good work of Fiona Allison, a member of Amnesty International Group 342 (West Chester/Chester County). Her opinion letter regarding the President’s veto of the Intelligence Authorization Bill appeared in The Kennett Paper on March 12. The letter is reproduced below. Thank you, Fiona, for spotlighting this decision.

Bush should not have vetoed ban on waterboarding
The Kennett Paper
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Recently, the U.S. House and Senate rejected the use of torture – a tactic rubber-stamped by high-ranking Bush administration officials - by passing the Intelligence Authorization Bill. The bill includes an important stipulation in the conference report that limits interrogators to the techniques permitted by the U.S. Army Field Manual. This would prevent the CIA and other U.S. agents from using waterboarding, sexual humiliation, dogs and other techniques that amount to torture and ill treatment. But President Bush vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Bill. Here’s one more mark on his administration’s shameful human rights record in the war on terror. Is the president confused? To affirm the ban on torture and prosecute U.S. agents responsible for its use is not surrendering to terrorists. But we can be certain that anything less than denouncing torture and cruel treatment is surrendering American values. The world needs to know that his veto does not represent my views on torture. Americans must send a clear, resounding message to this president and the next - do not torture in our name.

Fiona M. Allison
Pennsbury Township

Posted on The Kennett Paper website

Allentown group coordinator Dan Laxar’s editorial regarding Guantánamo Bay’s sixth anniversary was published in The Morning Call newspaper. Read it online here:

 Guantánamo milestone is not a proud moment

Thanks Dan!