Every year, Amnesty International Pittsburgh (Group 39) hosts its annual signature event (no pun intended!) where hundreds of letters get written as part of Amnesty International’s global Write for Rights campaign.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will be virtual. You will write your letters at your own home. But: there will still be fellowship, inspiring stories, networking, letter-writing tips, a candle-lighting ceremony, and more! Pandemic or not, our fight for human rights is needed as much as ever, and we are in this fight together!
We will have two Zoom video events (you can also join by phone) to start off and wrap up our joint individual letter writing efforts. Information about how to connect, the cases and addresses, and letter-writing tips and practicalities can be found below:
1. Kick-off: Thursday, December 10, 7pm, Zoom link [click here for phone and other connection info] We will gather, introduce ourselves to each other, learn about the cases and past success stories, and renew our commitment to human rights.
2. Write letters. Click here for all the info!
3. Report and celebrate: Tuesday, December 15, 7pm, Zoom link [click here for phone and other connection info] Show the letters you have written, share your thoughts, listen to poetry, and witness the moving candle lighting ceremony.
Cases and letters
This year, we are asking you to write for nine different cases in different countries. You can find background information and target addresses in the Case Sheets.
If possible, write letters by hand and send via regular mail. You may follow the sample letters, but try to use your own words. Feel free to shorten the text or add a personal note, but be polite and factual. There is no need to write the recipient’s full address on your handwritten page.
If writing by hand is not an option, consider adjusting the wording of sample letters, and print and sign them. If you don’t have access to a printer, an email address is available for most cases as an alternative option.
- Germain Rukuki (Burundi), jailed for 32 years for defending human rights:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Jani Silva (Colombia), threatened for defending the Amazon:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Idris Khattak (Pakistan), abducted for exposing disappearances:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Nassima Al-Sada (Saudi Arabia), jailed for defending women’s rights:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Melike & Özgür (Turkey), prosecuted for celebrating LGBTI rights:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Teyonna Lofton (USA), shot while waiting outside of a gas station:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Families in ICE detention (USA), detained after fleeing from danger:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Mohammed al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia), imprisoned for defending human rights:
Case sheet, Sample letter - Victims of excessive police force (Pennsylvania), targeted for being Black or participating in protests against police violence:
Background info, Sample letter and target addresses
Information on HB 2602
Connection info for December 10 event
Time: Dec 10, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88609722933?pwd=UnZNak5NMkQ0NHRCZ2R6OFlrUjljUT09
Meeting ID: 886 0972 2933
Passcode: 39
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88609722933#,,,,,,0#,,39# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,88609722933#,,,,,,0#,,39# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 886 0972 2933
Passcode: 39
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwmTkv1Qt
Connection info for Dec 15 event
Time: Dec 15, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81769965828?pwd=eUNYbEhGWkFSQmJMUExyem54UEtwQT09
Meeting ID: 817 6996 5828
Passcode: 39
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,81769965828#,,,,,,0#,,39# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,81769965828#,,,,,,0#,,39# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 817 6996 5828
Passcode: 39
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/koUxfM0HX