Fortnightly Action and News 02/05/2025
Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Following a presidential proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act by President Trump, targeting alleged members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal group, 255 individuals have been illegally removed from the USA to El Salvador and are now being held at the Centro de Confinamiento Contra el Terrorismo (CECOT), a prison notorious for its inhumane conditions. Amnesty is calling on the Trump administration to immediately return those that were illegally removed to El Salvador back to the US and halt any subsequent expulsions or deportations of Venezuelans or other third country nationals, complying with the decisions of the US Judiciary. You can add your voice by clicking the link below.
Our May Monthly Group meeting will take place online on Monday 12th May at 7pm.
We will be joined by AIUK Community Organiser Amika George, who will talk to us about the new AIUK campaign “Ban Israeli Settlement Goods.” There will be time for questions and discussion as well as an update on our other campaigns. All are welcome to attend, including new members. A zoom link will be circulated nearer the time of the meeting. Look out for it!
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 2nd May, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages. Feel free to bring your friends.
Please join us for the launch of Amnesty International UK’s new report
“Social Insecurity: the Devastating Human Rights Impact of Social Security Failures in the UK”
Thursday 8 May 2025, 6.30-8.00 pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Speakers, discussion, opportunities to network. Refreshments will be provided.
AIUK have chosen to launch this major new report in Manchester, so it would be good if as many of us as possible could attend. If you are able to help out with registration, stewarding etc. on the evening, please let me know (alison.wearden@gmail.com) and I will pass your name to the organisers. Please advertise widely to your communities and organisations.
Register for the event here. The event will be live-streamed.
On Friday, 20th June, during Refugee Week, we welcome back
ACOUSTIC AMNESTY
Concert in aid of refugee charities including Rainbow Haven and Refugees at Home. All are welcome. Please advertise widely to your friends.
7.30 (doors 7.00) at Holy Trinity Church, Salford, M3 5DW
You can reserve your tickets here. Acoustic Amnesty gig for refugee charities on Refugee Day
North West Amnesty Human Rights & Arts Festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 7th June
.
If you wish to help out in any way, please contact alison.wearden@gmail.com.
The event is still short of funds. Please advertise this Justgiving page widely!
Other events and actions
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to two forthcoming events
at Rethink Rebuild Society, First Floor, Discovery House, Crossley Rd, Levenshulme, SK4 5BH.
:
Where's Syria Heading? Reclaiming the Narrative (speakers & discussion in English)
Thursday 8th May 2025, 7:30pm
Reserve your place here
Celebrating Syria
A Tale of Two Cities! Double Bill: Talk and Music Concert
With Professor Husam AlWaer and HiJazz
Saturday 17th May 2025, 6pm - 9pm
Reserve your place here
International Conscientious Objectors Day, Thursday, May 15th
12 noon-1pm, Peace Garden, Lincoln Square, Manchester.
Stand in solidarity with Conscientous Objectors, including “Sasha” who has refused to fight in Russia and the Refusers Network in Israel.
If anyone would like to do a reading, please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know and I will pass your email address on to the organisers.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Justice for Palestinian Workers: Stop the Genocide.
Demonstration, Saturday, 3rd May, 12 noon Piccadilly Gardens
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Didsbury against genocide, rally, every Wednesday, 5.30-6.30pm outside the Library.
Levenshulme Peace and Justice for Palestine All out for Palestine
Each Thursday, 5-6pm, Levenshulme Village Green, junction of Stockport Rd & Chapel St
Good news
Saudi Arabia - On April 22, 2025, blogger 'Asma al-Subaeai was released after nearly four years of arbitrary detention. She was arrested on June 2, 2021 following posts in which she defended the rights of women who suffer domestic violence.
Saudi Arabia - On April 23, 2025, after three years of enforced disappearance, Shaimaa al-Baqmi, 27, was released from prison. She had been arrested in April 2022 after she moved away from the family home and moved into accommodation she owned, due to domestic violence and death threats from her father.
Iran - On April 24, 2025, Mehdi Sabeti was released. He had been arrested in September 2023 and sentenced, on June 22, 2024, to two years in prison for "insulting the Supreme Leader" and one year for "propaganda against the regime".
United States of America - On April 25, a judge in the state of Louisiana overturned the death sentence issued in 1998 against Jimmie Chris Duncan, found guilty of the death of his girlfriend's 23-month-old daughter on the basis of the so-called "bite test" (the teeth marks left on the victim's body), which over the years has been deemed "junk science" or scientifically unreliable.
Tanzania - On April 26, 2025, as part of a clemency measure issued on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar and which affected almost 4500 prisoners, President Samia Suluhu Hassan commuted all recently confirmed death sentences to life imprisonment.
The next Fortnightly Action and News will be on 16th May
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Human Rights in the UK volunteer needed
Individuals at Risk bi-monthly drop in Liz Carter lizcarter64@yahoo.co.uk
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Prevent campaign – Tom Milnes thomashmilnes@gmail.com
Refugees - Caroline Glendinning caroline.glendinning@york.ac.uk and Alison Wearden
UAE - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK [amnesty.org.uk] (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc [twitter.com] (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group [facebook.com] MANAGER NEEDED!
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] Lucy Downing lucy.dow@outlook.com is looking after this until we can appoint a permanent manager.
Digital design coordinator Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International.
Please contact me on alison.wearden@gmail.com with items for our Fortnightly Action and News, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec).
Group email address: manchestergroup@amnesty.org.uk
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