Click Click BOOM! Amnesty activists from around the nation Use Their Power to advocate for a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty at the 2013 AIUSA Annual General Meeting. When human rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back! With 1,500 people killed due to armed violence each year - that is 1 person every minute - we DEMAND justice in the form of a strong ATT!
3Amnesty International DC interns headed to American University to gather Arms Trade Treaty postcards and to take pictures of students holding signs saying why they supported the ATT. The event generated a lot of interest on campus… possibly because there were two AI interns running around in banana costumes? They collected over ONE HUNDRED postcards and photos. The photos were then set to music (Avril Lavigne singing ‘Imagine’ from Chimes of Freedom) and interspersed with a few killer facts. Here is the action video from the event!
The UN debate on the Arms Trade Treaty goes until Thursday, March 28. Please take action with Amnesty at www.twignature.amnestyusa.org
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From March 18-28, world leaders will negotiate the first treaty to stop weapons from ending up in the hands of tyrants and those who force children into combat. The United States government bears a heavy responsibility to lead these efforts. We need President Obama to sign a robust Arms Trade Treaty with the highest possible standards for the protection of human rights. Take action in our Thunderclap to #MakeObamaSign! Want more information on the ATT (Arms Trade Treaty)? Visit www.amnestyusa.org/arms
It’s time to stop dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The lives of millions depend on it. Support a strong Arms Trade Treaty now by signing this petition or sharing Amnesty’s infographics!
Want to learn more or find more ways to get involved? Check out this activist guide!
We are excited to announce that this year’s Human Rights Conference will be held at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner from Friday, March 22nd to Sunday, March 24th!
Register for the 2013 Annual General Meeting today!
The theme of this year’s conference is Use Your Power and it will be reflected throughout the weekend as we focus on how individuals can use their power to inspire change around the world.
AIUSA will kick off this amazing weekend with Opening Ceremonies on Friday evening in the presence of leading human rights leaders from around the world. The excitement will continue Saturday with inspirational keynote addresses, engaging plenary sessions led by members of the human rights community, and a variety of program sessions. Learn more about AIUSA’s campaigns during these sessions which include Rights Generation: Youth at the Forefront of Human Rights, In Search of Disappeared Trans-migrants in Mexico, and Criminalization of Same Sex Relationships and Access to Justice in Sub-Sahara Africa. You are sure to leave the conference ready to Use Your Power to take action for human rights!
Hello Abolitionists,
THIS IS IT — We’re in the Home Stretch!!
The death penalty repeal bill passed the House Judiciary Committee on Friday and will be on the House floor this week. As of press time, debate was slated to start Wednesday evening, with a final vote on Thursday or Friday.
Come to Annapolis!
Help us show support for repeal both in the House gallery and in the streets of our state capital. We’ve got banners and signs ready for anyone who’d like to be the public face of our campaign this week as the House of Delegates prepares to make Maryland the 6th state in six years to abolish the death penalty! Please reply to this email if you’re able to do so Wednesday or Thursday.
Others are welcome to join us in the House gallery to witness this historic vote. As of press time, it looks like the Wednesday session will begin at 6 p.m., and Thursday they’ll convene at 10 a.m.
Listen Live: Unable to join us in Annapolis? Follow the live stream of the proceedings at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frm1st.aspx?tab=home. Scroll down and look for the box on the right that says “House Session Status.” Click on the red “Live” button to listen. Share your thoughts via Twitter during the live stream. Be sure to use the hashtag #mdrepeal.
It’s not too late: If you have not yet done so, Call your state delegates TODAY and urge them to vote for repeal WITHOUT AMENDMENTS. You can find out who your state delegates are by going to www.mdelect.net and typing your address into the bar at the top of the screen. Hit enter and your state representative information will appear near the bottom of the left-hand column. Links are provided there to access your representatives’ contact information.
Ensure Funding for Murder Victims’ Family Members
After funding for essential services for murder victims’ family members was stripped from the repeal bill in the senate committee, Gov. Martin O’Malley penned a letter to the Senate committee vowing to include that funding in his supplemental budget for this year. Ask your state senator and delegates to make sure that crucial funding for murder victims’ family members is included in this year’s budget. Please see the press release from Amnesty International regarding the lack of funding for victim’s familes.
Keep tweeting in support of death penalty repeal, and be sure to use the hashtags #mdrepeal, and #mdga13.
Any of our core messages are fair game to tweet about (cost, innocence, etc.). Here are some sample tweets to use any time you want to start talking about repeal on Twitter:
· #MD is set to repeal the #deathpenalty this year! #MDRepeal #mdga13
· “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that” MLK. Choose the light, MD. #MDRepeal #mdga13
· “The [2009] law has not achieved its main goal of eliminating the risk of executing an innocent person” http://tinyurl.com/bz2pcv8#mdga13
· #didyouknow in 1990 death penalty states averaged a 4% higher murder rate than non-death penalty states? #MDRepeal #mdga13
· “Gov. O’Malley has taken a courageous stand…toward repeal of the death penalty in Maryland” #MDrepeal #mdga13
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, feel free to contact our SDPACs, Andrea Hall (andreainrockville@yahoo.com) or Kevin Scruggs (kevin.a.scruggs@gmail.com).
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates!
Thanks again for your interest in abolishing the death penalty!
In Solidarity,
Andrea, Kevin, and the Amnesty International USA Death Penalty Abolition Campaign
Hello Abolitionists,
Senate Victory!!
After defeating 14 hostile amendments, the Maryland Senate on Wednesday passed the death penalty repeal bill 27-20. Thanks for all you’ve done to make this moment possible!
he House Judiciary Committee was expected to vote on the bill at some point today, putting the measure on the House floor during the week of March 11. We anticipate at least three days of debate in the House before the final vote is taken. …
… but our work is not done! Help us become the sixth state in six years to abolish the death penalty. As we head into the home stretch, here’s what you can do:
Come to Annapolis!
Are you available to help organize a rally in front of the State House next week? If so, let us know. We’ve got banners and signs ready, and would like to be visible on the streets of Annapolis as the House of Delegates debates the repeal bill.
Also, stay tuned for more information about the House floor debate. Plan to join us in the House gallery in a show of support as this bill moves through its final hurdle.
Call Your Maryland Delegates TODAY!
If you haven’t done so, ask your state delegates to pass the death penalty repeal bill WITHOUT AMENDMENTS. You can find out who your state delegates are by going to www.mdelect.net and typing your address into the bar at the top of the screen. Hit enter and your state representative information will appear near the bottom of the left-hand column. Links are provided there to access your representatives’ contact information.
Ensure Funding for Murder Victims’ Family Members
After funding for essential services for murder victims’ family members was stripped from the repeal bill in the senate committee, Gov. Martin O’Malley penned a letter to the Senate committee vowing to include that funding in his supplemental budget for this year. Ask your state senator and delegates to make sure that crucial funding for murder victims’ family members is included in this year’s budget. Please see the press release from Amnesty International regarding the lack of funding for victim’s familes.
Sign the petition at SignOn.orghttp://signon.org/sign/repeal-marylands-death.
Keep tweeting in support of death penalty repeal, and be sure to use the hashtags #mdrepeal, and #mdga13.
Any of our core messages are fair game to tweet about (cost, innocence, etc.), and remember that our key messages at this point in the campaign are around the appropriation for crime victims and about countering bad info about there about prison killings and plea bargaining. Here are some sample tweets to use any time you want to start talking about repeal on Twitter:
· #MD looks set to repeal the #deathpenalty this year! Join the campaign #MDRepeal #mdga13 http://tinyurl.com/aqesndp
· “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that” MLK. Choose the light, MD. #MDRepeal #mdga13
· “The [2009] law has not achieved its main goal of eliminating the risk of executing an
· innocent person” http://tinyurl.com/bz2pcv8#mdga13
·‘Marylanders would be better served by repealing it & reinvesting the savings in…healing victims’ http://tinyurl.com/bz2pcv8#MDRepeal
· #didyouknow in 1990 death penalty states averaged a 4% higher murder rate than non-death penalty states? #MDRepeal #mdga13
· The campaign is really heating up for #MDrepeal #mdag13. For more campaign infohttp://www.mdcase.org/ is a great place to start!
· “Gov. O’Malley has taken a courageous stand…toward repeal of the death penalty in Maryland” #joinhim #MDrepeal #mdga13
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, feel free to contact our SDPACs, Andrea Hall (andreainrockville@yahoo.com) or Kevin Scruggs (kevin.a.scruggs@gmail.com).
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more updates!
Thanks again for your interest in abolishing the death penalty!
In Solidarity,
Andrea, Kevin, and the Amnesty International USA Death Penalty Abolition Campaign
VICTORY! VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT PASSES!!! Thank you to congress and senate for passing an inclusive #RealVAWA that respects the rights of ALL women!!
Join Amnesty International in Arlington, VA on March 30 for the inaugural Run for Rights 5K! Have fun, get fit, and raise awareness for human rights! Be sure to register to race here!! It’s a must for bragging rights in the human rights AND running communities!
