Bring War Criminals to Justice

Amnesty International is calling on the United States government and the international community to steps toward global cooperation and support the International Criminal Court.

Currently, a wall of impunity surrounds the war criminals responsible for the atrocities in Darfur-- very few have been brought to justice and the most ruthless perpetrators roam free, often committing the same crimes they have been engaged in for the past seven years. We need international accountability. We demand justice for the victims of the war crimes in Darfur.

This is why we must strengthen the International Criminal Court. Do your part. Take action now!

An Amnesty success story-- and another reason to keep up the fight

We are pleased to announce the release from Guantanamo Bay of Mohammed al-Odaini, a young man who was detained without charge or trial for eight years-- from the age of 18 to 26. He will be returning to his home country of Yemen after spending a good part of his young life in jail for no legitimate reason.

We would like to thank the many Amnesty supporters who sent letters and postcards demanding Odaini's release and standing up for the human rights of all. We would also like to congratualte those who organized events, screenings and vigils. Finally, we at the Midwest Regional Office, located in Chicago, can take personal pride in the fact that two local groups in our region-- Local Group 50 in Chicago and Local Group 139 in Wisconsin-- took up Odaini's case with particular instistence.

Amnesty members and supporters like you make the difference. Your letters and acts of solidarity may well have saved a life.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Chicago Local Group Meeting

After a long hiatus, the Chicago city local group is starting up once more! If you are interesting in joining and in having a long-term impact on the direction and future growth of the group, please come by our office on July 22nd at 6:30 PM.

Our address, for those who don't know, is 53 W Jackson-- suite 731 on the 7th floor.

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.