So far, activists in New Jersey are organizing meetings with nine of the state’s fifteen members of Congress.
You can join the following meetings that are being organized by visiting http://www.amnestyusa.org/delegation/list.php:
Congressman LoBiondo
Senator Menendez
Congressman Jim Saxton
Congressman Pallone
Congressman Rush Holt
Congressman Chris Smith
Congressman Garrett
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen
Congressman Albio Sires
Don’t see your member of Congress on the list? There is still time to volunteer to organize a meeting in your district by filling out the application at http://www.amnestyusa.org/delegation/leader.php!
Showing posts with label Guantanamo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guantanamo. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Tell Congress to FINALLY Close Guantanamo!
Once again, the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay remain operating as we mark Torture Victims and Survivors Month this June. Hundreds of people remain in the prison without formal charges. Those who have been charged face the prospect of an unfair trial at the hands of a “military commission” that lacks independence and is allowed to use evidence that would be thrown out in a normal court of law as tainted by torture and other abusive interrogation methods.
June also marks the beginning of Congress’s annual Independence Day recess. Many our elected officials will return home from Washington during this break, creating an excellent opportunity to for us to meet with them in person and remind them that it is long since time to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo. All prisoners should either be charged with a recognized criminal offense or released. Those that are charged should be given fair trials in civilian courts.
You can help out by volunteering to organize a meeting with one of our members of the House or the Senate. You can also join an existing delegation.
Lobbying Congress is easy and effective, especially with the materials and training that Amnesty provides. As the Legislative Coordinator for New Jersey, I will also be available to assist delegation leaders plan their visits.
June also marks the beginning of Congress’s annual Independence Day recess. Many our elected officials will return home from Washington during this break, creating an excellent opportunity to for us to meet with them in person and remind them that it is long since time to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo. All prisoners should either be charged with a recognized criminal offense or released. Those that are charged should be given fair trials in civilian courts.
You can help out by volunteering to organize a meeting with one of our members of the House or the Senate. You can also join an existing delegation.
Lobbying Congress is easy and effective, especially with the materials and training that Amnesty provides. As the Legislative Coordinator for New Jersey, I will also be available to assist delegation leaders plan their visits.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Report from Lobby Day
The post-AGM lobby day went really well yesterday! Do to an oversight, the DC office had not arranged a meeting with Congressman Chris Smith’s office. As you probably know, Smith has been a very important leader on gender-based violence and human rights in general. It was therefore very important to contact him about the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) yesterday. I was therefore very excited to be able arrange a meeting first thing Monday morning. A senior staff member even decided to take part!
Unfortunately, however, I wound up missing the meeting that Amnesty’s staff had scheduled with Congressman LoBiondo’s office. Two volunteers from the lobbying training sessions at the AGM were able to be there, though, and I have heard that the meeting went well. I also made a point of going to the office to apologize in person for not being able to attend.
I also had meetings with the offices of Albio Sires and Rush Holt. In general, all three of the offices that I met with were very positive about IVAWA and the congressional letter regarding the rape of Barbara Italia Mendez by Mexican police agents. Naturally, Smith’s office wants to make sure that IVAWA does not promote abortion. I told the Smith staff members I met with that Amnesty had made sure that the legislation does not deal with this issue. Understandably, however, they need to read the text of the bill once it is introduced.
The offices were also very interested in the northeast region’s special focus case, Fathi el-Jahmi of Libya.
It looks like our next big legislative push will be to press for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. We are going to arrange some district meetings during the congressional recess in early July. This will be a great opportunity to actually meet with our representatives themselves! Please keep an eye out for further details. It would be great if student groups could try to stay in contact about this after classes end. Students can also check http://njailegaction.blogspot.com for more information!
Unfortunately, however, I wound up missing the meeting that Amnesty’s staff had scheduled with Congressman LoBiondo’s office. Two volunteers from the lobbying training sessions at the AGM were able to be there, though, and I have heard that the meeting went well. I also made a point of going to the office to apologize in person for not being able to attend.
I also had meetings with the offices of Albio Sires and Rush Holt. In general, all three of the offices that I met with were very positive about IVAWA and the congressional letter regarding the rape of Barbara Italia Mendez by Mexican police agents. Naturally, Smith’s office wants to make sure that IVAWA does not promote abortion. I told the Smith staff members I met with that Amnesty had made sure that the legislation does not deal with this issue. Understandably, however, they need to read the text of the bill once it is introduced.
The offices were also very interested in the northeast region’s special focus case, Fathi el-Jahmi of Libya.
It looks like our next big legislative push will be to press for closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. We are going to arrange some district meetings during the congressional recess in early July. This will be a great opportunity to actually meet with our representatives themselves! Please keep an eye out for further details. It would be great if student groups could try to stay in contact about this after classes end. Students can also check http://njailegaction.blogspot.com for more information!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
I will be speaking at this event on April 15, 2007.
THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO
On Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m. AI Group 41 (Cherry Hill, NJ) will host a special screening of this movie followed by discussion and Q&A with Lawrence Ladutke, Amnesty International's Legislative Coordinator for New Jersey.
This movie is a reenactment of the capture and treatment of the British detainees at Guantanamo who were eventually released and chronicles their experiences throughout the entire ordeal.
The legal implications and human rights implications of this detention center will be highlighted and discussed afterwards.
This event will also be an ideal opportunity for you to learn more about Amnesty International and its human rights work and how you may become involved personally.
The event will be held at the Camden County Library in the 3rd. floor meeting room. This library is at 203 Laurel Road in Voorhees, opposite the Echelon Mall. Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
On Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m. AI Group 41 (Cherry Hill, NJ) will host a special screening of this movie followed by discussion and Q&A with Lawrence Ladutke, Amnesty International's Legislative Coordinator for New Jersey.
This movie is a reenactment of the capture and treatment of the British detainees at Guantanamo who were eventually released and chronicles their experiences throughout the entire ordeal.
The legal implications and human rights implications of this detention center will be highlighted and discussed afterwards.
This event will also be an ideal opportunity for you to learn more about Amnesty International and its human rights work and how you may become involved personally.
The event will be held at the Camden County Library in the 3rd. floor meeting room. This library is at 203 Laurel Road in Voorhees, opposite the Echelon Mall. Sunday, April 15th. from 2:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
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