Amnesty International Global “Write for Rights” Launch

Tens of thousands of people around the world are participating in Amnesty’s annual Global Write-a-thon, joining together to write letters that can save lives.

It’s your last chance to join us before the event’s official launch. Will you sign up today and pledge to write at least one letter to free prisoners of conscience and to stop human rights abuses?

Yes, I will send a letter of hope this December. I will Write for Rights.

You won’t be alone. Almost 50,000 people already plan to participate. And more than 800 Write for Rights events are taking place across the United States, with even more events happening worldwide.

One of these events, in Chicago, will feature a very special guest — a man who symbolizes exactly why it is we’re writing. Ed LeMaster knows how important your letters are. In 1961, letters from Amnesty supporters helped to set him free.

Ed, a missionary in Angola, was imprisoned in 1961 as a prisoner of conscience, wrongfully accused of terrorist activities. His case was part of Amnesty’s first December letter-writing campaign, 50 years ago.

50 years later, we still write for justice. This year, Ed LeMaster celebrates his 50th year of freedom and will be writing with us. We’ll write all across the country — from Homer, Alaska, to New York City. Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles is organizing an assembly for over 1,200 students to write for rights. Birtukan Mideksa — an Ethiopian prisoner of conscience and former Write for Rights case who was freed in October 2010 — will join a Write for Rights event in Washington, DC.

The response has been truly inspiring so far. But we still need your help to reach our goal of 250,000 letters pledged. Every letter matters. Ed LeMaster still treasures every last one of his.

Write letters to amplify the voices governments are attempting to silence. Write letters demanding freedom. Write letters of solidarity.

There are many governments around the world that like to think their prisoners are forgotten, and that their unjust actions go unnoticed. Help us shine a light on human rights abuses. Join us and write for rights.

Thank You,

Michael O’Reilly
Senior Director, Individuals at Risk Campaign
Amnesty International USA