Inferno in Northwest Pakistan

The civilian population of Northwest Pakistan is in desperate straits. It faces horrific abuses from the Taliban-- an organization which has produced a virtual reign of terror in the region-- and from two other fronts-- the Pakistani security forces and the U.S. military. These are both in theory opposed to the Taliban but civilians regard them with justified suspicion. The Pakistani military has in the past funded and supported the Taliban and the U.S. government has tacitly supported it in the process.

Amnesty International is calling on the world to speak out on behalf of the people of Northwest Pakistan. They live in a hellish, lawless world and suffer drone attacks from the U.S. military, arbitrary violence from Pakistan security forces, and various abuses from the Taliban and local warlords.

Let these people know they are not alone. Send the world a message. Take action now!

Troy Davis Update

On June 23rd, Troy Davis finally had his day in court. Davis has been on death row since 1991 for the murder of a police officer-- meaning he has spent nearly two decades of his life in prison and has faced numerous threats of execution.

Davis was convicted based on incredibly shaky witness testimony-- one witness only managed to remember the color of the T-shirt the perpetrator was wearing-- and many of the witnesses have, in the decades since the initial conviction, recanted their testimony. Yet Davis remained in prison as his case was taken up by activist groups around the world, including Amnesty International. Eventually his case reached the highest court in the nation-- the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ordered a hearing-- an unusual move, but warranted given the extraordinary circumstances of the case and the fact that Davis may face death for crimes he did not commit. The results of the hearing are still unclear and Davis and his supporters may have to wait weeks to hear whether or not any change will be forthcoming.

We wish life, hope, and a bright future to Davis, his family, and all people around the world who are committed to justice, due process, and equality before the law.

US Social Forum

The Amnesty International Midwest Office arrived in Detroit yesterday for the 2010 US Social Forum. The USSF is an annual meeting of groups and individuals committed to fighting for social justice.

The USSF grew out of the World Social Forum, another annual meeting which brings together NGOs, activists, and committed citizens from around the globe to work on issues related to poverty reduction, human rights, and global justice. The firstWSF was held in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and has convened every year since.

Amnesty International is committed to social justice-- particularly through its "Demand Dignity" campaign, which appeared in response to the devastating economic crisis and recession of the last two years. This campaign seeks to highlight the need for economic and social rights, particularly the rights to health care, education, and a decent standard of living enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also calls upon the poor and underprivileged of the world to speak out for their rights-- to demand dignity as human beings. For this reason, the Amnesty Midwest office chose to attend the USSF and lend its voice to the call for social change.

Action for Aung San Suu Kyi

Amnesty International has called for another action on behalf of Burmese political prisoner and human rights advocate Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi is being held in the infamous Insein prison-- an institution known as "the darkest hell-hole in Burma" where prisoners and dissidents are routinely tortured.

Suu Kyi is a hero to many and her unjust imprisonment is a reminder of the many human rights abuses committed by the Burmese state. Nor is her case unusual. There are currently 2,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, including one young man who was sentenced to ten years in Insein prison for distributing a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi. Don't let these injustices be forgotten. Tell the Burmese government that human rights are universal and non-negotiable. Support our campaign to save the political prisoners of Myanmar.

Iran Event-- June 20th

June 20th marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan. Neda was killed by Basij paramilitaries in Iran for attending a peaceful protest following the disputed Iranian elections of 2009.

Amnesty International as well as Chicago supporters of "We are ALL one Neda, we are ALL one calling" are holding an event to commemorate this tragedy and to bring hope to the struggle for human rights and human dignity in Iran and around the world.

The event will include a screening of the HBO documentary “For Neda” and the “Paris to Pilsen” video report on the making of 1000 Neda Masks by Amir Normandi.

Participants are also encouraged to join in a unison commemorative visual protest, displaying
Neda’s masks to echo the original message of We Are ALL one Neda, We Are ALL one.
Calling on the north east corner of Church and Orrington in Evanston Illinois at 6:30 pm.
Speakers will include:
Elise Auerbach, Iran country specialist, Amnesty International USA
Hamid Akbari, Northeastern Illinois University
Ezzat Goushegir, DePaul University, School for New Learning

When: Wednesday June 23, 2010 from 7 to 9 pm, Vigil beforehand at 6:30
Where: Community Meeting Room; Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington
Avenue, (near the Davis el stop of the CTA Purple Line)

Call for Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

The prison release date for noted human rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi is approaching once again. Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning democracy activist and opponent of the military junta in Myanmar. She is also a political prisoner who has been repeatedly jailed on trumped-up charges. Although the arrival of her release date gives us great hope, the Burmese state has allowed that date to approach many times in the past, only to invent excuses and wild accusations at the last minute to keep her behind bars.

Help us make sure that that doesn't happen again. Stand with Aung San Suu Kyi and stand up for human rights. You can take action on the Amnesty website here.

You can also get updates related to Suu Kyi's case delivered directly to your phone.

Best wishes for all human rights activists in Burma and around the world.

Celebrate Pride Month

Communities began recognizing June as Pride Awareness Month in 1969 when members of the LGBT community instigated a riot in response to police brutality aimed at LGBT people at a gay bar in New York City.

This refusal to sit silently in the face of regular, discriminatory abuse helped galvanize the LGBT community and their allies across the United States, giving birth to the modern LGBT rights movement.

Join us this month as we shine a light on LGBT cases around the world and further the cause of equality and human rights for all.

» Encourage the president of Mexico to extend the right to marry to all Mexican residents.
» Call on the Iraqi government to investigate the murders of Iraqi gay men.
» Take more actions to protect human rights during Pride Mont