WASHINTON DC: Executions Scheduled - NEWS

NPR, July 25, 2019.

The U.S. government scheduled its first executions in nearly two decades, the Justice Department announced Thursday. "We owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system," Attorney General William Barr said.

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USA: Amnesty International Regional Conferences - EVENTS

Amnesty International, July 23, 2019

It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to this year’s Midwest Regional Conference. Join us on Saturday, November 9th and Sunday, November 10th, 2019, as we stand shoulder to shoulder in Columbus to make a lasting human rights impact. The goal of all Regional Conferences is to create a transformative experience focused on human rights education, skills-building, networking, and inspire action.

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GUATEMALA: Xinca Lawyer Threatened - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, July 19, 2019.

Lawyer Quelvin Jimenez reported that on 23 June a group of people, carrying small arms and machetes, disrupted a meeting of the Xinca Indigenous People authorities in Jumaytepeque, Santa Rosa (Southwest Guatemala). 

They verbally threatened and beat some of the participants. Quelvin escaped but was stopped by a vehicle where three people got out accusing him of attacking them.

Police took them all to a municipal police station in Barberena. Hours later, he was released free of charges. The Attorney’s office should investigate these attacks and guarantee Quelvin’s protection.

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MADISON: Gaza Freedom Flotilla - NEWS

Amnesty International, Group 139.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla comes to Madison July 24-25!

Since 2008, the Freedom Flotilla movement has sent 35 ships attempting to break Israel’s illegal, US-backed military blockade that has devastated Gaza and denied 2 million people –half of them children -- access to food, clean water, fuel, medicine, employment and basic human dignity for 13 years.

On Wednesday and Thursday July 24 and 25^th, the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project (MRSCP) welcomes the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s North American Boat to Gaza campaign to Madison with two days of activities.

On Wednesday evening, a pontoon will give visibility to the crisis in Gaza on Lake Mendota offshore from the Union Terrace and The Edgewater. We will also be leafleting the crowd on shore. (Anyone interested in helping with this, please email rafahsistercity@yahoo.com)

On Thursday, former flotilla participants Kathy Kelly (Voices for Creative Non-Violence) and Kit Kittredge (NA Boat to Gaza Campaign) will talk about Gaza, the importance of the flotilla and plans for the next international sailing in 2020 at 7 pm at James Reeb Unitarian Congregation, 2146 E. Johnson Street, Madison. 

This free event will feature a display of Gaza children’s artwork as well as refreshments & dessert including baklawa; donations to benefit the Flotilla and another Maia Project clean water system for kids in Rafah will be appreciated.

For more information, contact MRSCP at rafahsistercity@yahoo.com , www.madisonrafah.org, or check out the face book event.

Welcomed by WORT RADIO. (Kit Kittredge and Kathy Kelly, fresh from the Freedom Flotilla's activities in Chicago, will be interviewed live on WORT's A Public Affair by host Allen Ruff from noon-1 pm on Thursday 7-25. Kathy Kelly will also be a guest on The Morning Buzz with Jan Miyasaki between 8 and 8:30 am on Wednesday 7-24 … tune in at 89.9 fm or listen live on line.)

ITALY: Roma People Homeless after Forced Eviction - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, July 12, 2019

Around 500 Roma people, including around 150 children, pregnant women and older people, were left homeless after being forcibly evicted by authorities from their settlement in the municipality of Giugliano in Campania, in southern Italy, on 10 May. The families have since found shelter in an industrial area but urgently need adequate alternative housing solutions. Authorities must urgently comply with European mechanisms’ request that Italy adopts immediate measures to eliminate the risk of serious and irreparable harm and guarantee Roma families’ rights and safety.

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PHILIPPINES: Human Rights Defender Threatened - ONLINE ACTION

Amnesty International, Autralia, July 3, 2019.

On 22 April, Cristina Palabay received a text message: she would be killed this year.

Hours earlier, someone had shot and killed her colleague Bernardino Patigas. She and Bernadino both worked with Philippines human rights collective, Karapatan.

We need to act now and stop the opponents of human rights from killing Cristina as well.

Call on the Philippine authorities to give Cristina and other human rights defenders police protection. 

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