Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News

Please do this action and make a difference

The UK is the only country in Europe without a time limit on the detention of people in the immigration system. While the people detained in them have committed no crime, immigration detention centres look and operate like prisons. Often, people are held in small cells with barred windows, where they are locked in for several hours during the day and at night. With no knowledge of when they may be released it is not surprising that rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD among detainees are soaring.

In September 2023, a public inquiry revealed horrific, hidden abuse by staff against people held at the Brook House detention centre. 19 incidents of abuse were potentially in violation of laws forbidding torture and inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.

The inquiry called for a 28 day time limit on detention. Instead, the government is taking steps to detain even greater numbers of people for even longer, creating new detention centres and even proposing to detain children for longer periods. If you want a time limit on detention, sign the action below by Detention Action

TAKE ACTION

I Want an End to Indefinite Detention (detentionaction.org.uk)

If anyone would like a transcript of the excellent talk given to the group by Pete Weatherby KC at our February meeting, please email alison.wearden@gmail.com and I will send it you.

***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL

Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire

and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel

St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 23rd February, 5pm to 6pm

Meet in front of Central Library

Please dress warmly, wear black/dark colours

and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.

We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages and tealights. Feel free to bring your friends.

We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.

The next meeting of the North West Amnesty Group will take place online

Tuesday 27^th February at 7pm.

Eilidh Macpherson, AIUK Individuals at Risk Campaign Manager,

will be joining the meeting to outline how Individuals at Risk work is organised and to tell us about the different ways that groups can get involved.

If you would like to attend the meeting, please email Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com  or Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com for the zoom link.

Two FREE events relating to International Women’s Day/Week celebrations.

Saturday 2^nd March 12-4pm at the Mechanics Institute on Princess Street, M1 6DD

to mark 100 years since Mancunian Ellen Wilkinson was elected to the Commons

Ellen24: Parliament’s Fiery Particle.

Featuring the Margaret Ashton lecture by Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP.

Tickets here

Saturday 9^th March, 10am-12 noon, Manchester Central Library

Prior to the Walk for Women through Manchester City Centre

Trailblazers Celebration: Women of Greater Manchester

Tickets here

We will have Manchester Amnesty stalls in the foyer at the Mechanics Institute from 12-4pm on 2^nd March, and in the Library from 10am-12noon on 9^th March.

Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you can help out at either of these stalls (even if only for a short time)

Non-Amnesty events

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations

Commemorate the 12000+ Palestinian children who have been killed,

and protest against biased media coverage of events in Gaza

Saturday 24^th February 1pm, outside the BBC,

Media City, Salford Quays, M50 2LH

Children and families welcome. Children will lead the march.

Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine

Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar (junction Upper Chorlton Rd/Moss Lane East/Withington Rd)

Please support these events, but please do not take Amnesty banners.