Thursday, June 2, 2016

Amnesty International: Amnesty Insider - May 2016 Newsletter

Amnesty International

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Margaret HuangToday, there are more people fleeing war and persecution than any other time since World War II. They are mothers, fathers and children; they are students, working-class people, and white-collar professionals. They're being forced from their homes, often under threat of violence. They're human beings, looking for the same safety we all want and have a right to.

While politicians in Congress and state legislatures continue to demonize refugees, the vast majority of the American public wants to do more to help them. In a groundbreaking new poll conducted by Amnesty International, 71% of Americans said they welcome refugees to their country, and the vast majority said the U.S. government should do more to help them.

Amnesty International is playing an increasing—and critical—role in making sure that happens.

For many years, Amnesty International has documented the human rights abuses refugees face around the world. Now, we're pressing governments to both protect refugees and address the bigger problems that have created this crisis in the first place. As we have for 55 years, on a wide range of human rights issues, we're mobilizing millions of people in the U.S. and around the world to press for fundamental change that will protect all people from injustice.

The U.S. can do more, and it must. We're pressing President Obama to increase the number of refugees that can resettle in the U.S., and we're pressing the president and Congress to increase U.S. support to help countries that are taking the vast majority of refugees. Take action today to ask Congress to do more, and ask your friends to take action, too.

Thank you for your activism,

Margaret Huang