Weekly Action and News 24/05/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
This week we have an Amnesty Urgent action which you can take by email. Sonia Dahmani is a well-known Tunisian lawyer and TV personality who was arrested on 11th May pending investigation for spreading false information, after she made remarks critical of the authorities. Amnesty International has condemned Ms Dahmani’s arbitrary detention as she is detained solely for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression. By clicking the link below, you can add your voice to Amnesty’s calls for Sonia Dahmani to be immediately and unconditionally released and for the baseless criminal investigation against her to be dropped.
***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 24th May, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library
Please wear black/dark colours
and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages. Feel free to bring your friends.
We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.
***TOMORROW***
Our appeal-writing drop in session will take place on
Saturday 25th May 2-4pm, Manchester Central Library, in the area behind the café.
As well as writing appeals, we will be making key-shaped postcards highlighting human rights abuses in the UAE to send to the Manchester City chairman. All materials for letter writing and key-making will be provided. If you prefer to send emails or tweets, bring your device. Wifi available.
There is no need to stay for the full 2 hours, although writing appeals, meeting group members, and chatting over a tea or coffee makes a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon.
Would you like to organise and run our appeal writing sessions?
Anne Walker has been running the appeal-writing sessions for many years and needs to hand this task over to another member, so that she can focus on her regional rep activities. The role has the advantage of being regular and predictable. The writing sessions take place on 6 Saturday afternoons per year. Some additional researching and organisation of materials is also required.
If you would like take on this role, please contact Anne anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are hoping to have a stall on Sunday 14th July at this year’s festival by SPARKLE, the national transgender charity, which will take place in Sackville Gardens, Manchester.
If you are able to help out on the day, and particularly if you have a car for transporting materials, please contact Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE for this year’s Manchester Pride Parade, which will take place
in Manchester (route tba) on Saturday, 24th August.
Non-Amnesty events
TOMORROW
Rethink Rebuild in conjunction with the University of Manchester
invites you to a FREE roundtable discussion with exhibition and food
Migration, Solidarity, and Criminalisation : perspectives from Morocco, France & the UK
Saturday, 25th May, 2-4pm at Rethink Rebuild Society (Syrian Community Centre)
Discovery House, Crossley Road #First Floor Stockport SK4 5BH
More information and book your place here
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Saturday 25th May. 12noon, St. Peter’s Square.
Demonstration: Stop Gaza genocide. Boycott Israel. Take action!
MANCHESTER COACH TO STOP ARMING ISRAEL – SHUT ELBIT DOWN
Monthly protest outside UAV Engines in Shenstone, Staffs that makes the engines for Elbit drones Tuesday 28th May 11am – 1pm Chorlton St Coach station at 8.20am returning by 4pm.
Tickets £10 or £15 solidarity price. Contact Anne via WhatsApp 07910862370 to book your place.
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.
MANCHESTER PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL
31st May, The Savoy Cinema, Heaton Moor
200 metres
Network for Police Monitoring.
“In our millions”
Netpol's new report on the policing of Palestine protests is launching on
Thursday 30 May, 6.30-8.00pm, online. Book your free ticket now to join the livestream.
Good news
UK – On 20 May, 2024, the high court granted Julian Assange leave to appeal against the order enabling his extradition to the United States which has been in force since it was approved by previous Home Secretary Priti Patel in June 2022. The court found that the US had not made adequate assurances that Mr Assange’s human rights under the First Amendment would be respected if he were to be extradited on espionage charges. While welcoming the ruling as “a rare piece of positive news for Julian Assange and all defenders of press freedom,” Amnesty International called on the USA “to finally put an end to this shameful saga, by dropping all the charges against Assange.”
UK – On 21 May 2024, in response to an action brought by Liberty, two High Court judges ruled that the government did not have the power to create legislation which gave the police almost unlimited power to restrict protest. The court found that previous home secretary Suella Braverman had acted illegally in using secondary legislation to override the will of parliament and define “serious disruption” as “anything more than minor.” The judges also found that the government’s consultation process when arriving at this definition was biased and flawed. Despite the strong wording used in the ruling, the government has announced its intention to appeal.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey Fatih Segmen - fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK Iona Bruce – ifbruce99@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.com
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
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]
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] (managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.com)
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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