All posts by ayresfreitas

Join Amnesty International Pittsburgh (group 39) and many other inspiring Pittsburgh rights groups and community leaders on Monday, December 9, 2018, 6-9pm for at Calvary Episcopal Church our annual Write-for-Rights event.

This year marks the 33rd annual gathering in Pittsburgh! During the event you can contribute to writing between 500 and 1000 letters on important human rights cases of our time. The focus this year is on young people: Young people suffering from abuse of human rights, and young people taking the lead in defending those rights and needing our support!

Stop in and stay as long as you can. Write letters. Talk to other activists. Check out information tables about local groups working in Pittsburgh on local, national and international issues. Fortify yourself with the free refreshments.

Candlelight Ceremony and City Council Proclamation at 7:30 pm.

In Memoriam: Remember the victims of gun violence and demand stronger gun laws

October 15, 2019Uncategorizedayresfreitas

Amnesty International Group 39 is a partner in this important event, organized by Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence, Bend the Arc: Pittsburgh and CeaseFirePA.

Thursday, October 24, 4-5pm, North Shore Riverfront Park (beneath the Mr. Rogers statue). Download flyer.

We will honor: the 11 victims of the October 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, All the victims of gun homicide in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and the victims of mass shootings across the nation over the past year.

We will demand: that our legislators pass stronger gun laws to stop the carnage once and for all.

The event will be largely silent – no speakers, no chants, with an emphasis on visually communicating our message. We will provide signs for participants to hold that include the name of the event (In Memoriam) and a place for each participant to insert the gun violence incident date that is most meaningful to them. Each sign will also include messages calling for specific gun violence prevention legislation, such as ‘Universal Background Checks Save Lives’ and ‘22,000 Americans die of Gun Suicide Each Year – Pass Extreme Risk Laws Now!!’

Please try to arrive by 3:45 to sign in an pick up a sign. More info.

Group 39 members lobby for Saudi focus case and gun legislation

September 30, 2019Call to Action, Local Chaptersayresfreitas

On September 3, five members of Group 39 met with local staff at Senator Toomey’s office in Pittsburgh. The group presented two requests:

They aksed Senator Toomey to raise the case of the group’s focus case with the authorities in Saudi Arabia. This case, newly adopted by us this summer, is about two prisoners of conscience, Drs. Mohammed al-Qahtani and Abdullah al-Hamid, who were co-founderes of the Saudi human rights organization ACPRA. Both men were convicted to long prison sentences of 10 and 11 years, respectively, in unfair trials. Their fate is symptomatic for the worsening human rights situation in Saudi Arabia overall.
Additionally, they asked Senator Toomey to support Senate Bill 42, which would implement universal background checks on all gun sales in the U.S. In particular, group members emphasized the need to cover sales at gun shows and private sales, as well as a maximum waiting period of at least three days for the background check to be completed.

Voices Against Gun Violence

April 24, 2019Call to Action, Local Chapters, Main Eventsayresfreitas

A Letter-to-the-Editor Writing Workshop

In lieu of our Group 39’s regular May meeting, we are hosting a workshop on writing Letters to the Editor in the issue of gun violence and gun control. The workshop will include some instruction on best practices for writing a LtE; information about recent newspaper articles on the issue; and materials for writing drafts. The idea is that each participant writes one letter that night, and sends it to her/his favorite newspaper later from home (we’ll provide instructions where to send it to). We’ll also have options for people who don’t have internet at home. Light refreshments will be provided.

When: Wednesday, May 8, 7pm
Where: First Unitarian Church (Schweitzer Room), 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Download flyer