AIUSA Remembers Congressman Donald Payne

Amnesty International Expresses Regret over Death of U.S. Congressman Donald PayneContact: Gwen Fitzgerald, gfitzgerald@aiusa.org, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) – Following the sad news today of the passing of U.S. Congressman Donald Payne, Adotei Awkei, Amnesty International's managing director for government relations, issued the following statement: "Amnesty International is deeply saddened by the passing today of U.S. Congressman Donald Payne. The U.S. Congress and millions of people from around the world have lost a human rights champion and an individual of inspiring commitment and integrity. Throughout his 23 years in office, Congressman Payne never said no to the fight for justice and dignity for all. Whether it was drawing attention to conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo, conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone and Liberia, or ending the violence and humanitarian crises in Darfur, Donald Payne was there. When Nigeria was reeling under the brutal dictatorship of the late Sani Abach and Africa's 'Big Men' mercilessly silenced their citizens, Congressman Payne refused to stay quiet, chiding them in his unassuming voice. And when the opportunity presented itself to secure more than $50 billion to prevent, control and treat HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in Africa, Donald Payne led the fight. While people familiar with the U.S. Congress may foremost associate Donald Payne with Africa, the Congressman was dedicated to ending injustice wherever it arose. From his steadfast opposition to the death penalty, to championing education as a right for all Americans, to advancing peace initiatives to end the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, Congressman Payne never lost sight of the need to retain compassion and dignity for all individuals. Perhaps the best measure of Congressman Payne's impact was that no one could envision any Africa-related legislation moving forward without the congressman's blessing. Likewise, no activist traveling to Washington, D.C., would leave without first meeting with Congressman Payne and being reassured of his support. Congressman Payne's absence will be difficult to miss. But his legacy remains vibrant and vital, and his work will continue to be a source of inspiration for all." Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom and dignity are denied.###

Busy day on the Hill

I wound up meeting with 10 of NJ's 15 congressional offices yesterday, promoting the DREAM ACT and legislation to prevent violence against women.

I also ran to MA Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and one of the most important champions of human rights in El Salvador. I first met McGovern when I interviewed him for my dissertation--about 11 or 12 years ago! McGovern became involved in El Salvador while working with the late Congressman Joe Moakley on the investigation of the 1989 massacre at the Jesuit Central American University (UCA).

Protect Central Americans Travelling Through Mexico!

Thanks to everyone who has been helping support the DREAM Act by calling Congress. Here is another important opportunity to help immigrants--many of who are robbed, raped, or killed on their way to the U.S. through Mexico.

Please call your Member of the House of Represenatives and urge him to sign a letter to Secretary of State Clinton being circulated by Representative Raul M. Gijalva. It calls on her to regularly incorporate the rights of migrants in Mexico as part of our diplomacy with the Mexican government. You can read a recent Amnesty International news release for background on this important issue!

Scaring the real monsters since 1961!

I created the stencil below on my computer and then carved a foam pumpkin from Michael's.

Help Save Troy Davis!

Please urge members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus to sign a letter against the execution of Troy Davis. The Supreme Court has allowed this execution to go forward despite substantial evidence that he may be innocent! NJ Congressman to contact include Rep. Payne (202-225-3436) and Rep. Pallone (202-225-4671). They can sign by contacting Scott Goldstein in the Office of Rep. Hank Johnson.

Updated Maternal Mortality Report Available!

The update to Deadly Delivery is available online.

Support the Maternal Health Accountability Act!

Activists around the country are meeting with their local congressional offices to support the Maternal Health Accountability Act! These meetings will have a much bigger impact if Congress also hears about this issue from constituents like you! Please call your Representative's office and urge him to cosponsor HR 894!

Every day, 2 or 3 women die of pregnancy and childbirth related complications in the United States. Amnesty has found that the lack of reliable data contributes to this crisis. HR 894, the Maternal Health Accountability Act, will provide states with grants to collect and analyze this information!

Congressman Rothman onboard Maternal Heatlh Accountability Act

So far, only one New Jersey Congressman, Representative Rothman, has cosponsored the Maternal Health Accountability Act (HR 894), the legislation that Amnesty International is supporting during our week of lobbying on Maternal Mortality. Please help bring the rest onboard by arranging or taking part in a meeting with your Congressman’s office at http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-priorities/demand-dignity-and-protect-maternal-health-in-the-us/page.do?id=1691023!

During the last Congress, NJ Representatives Holt, Payne, Rothman, and Sires cosponsored one or both of the maternal health bills supported by Amnesty.

Help Amnesty prevent Maternal Mortality this Mothers’ Day!

Last year, Amnesty International released the Deadly Delivery report, establishing the alarming rate of maternal mortality and “near misses” in the United States. Since then, the U.S. performance on this issue has actually declined in comparison to other industrialized countries! The situation remains especially bad for African American women. Our Representatives and Congressmen are likely to be at their district offices sometime around Mothers’ Day. Amnesty activists across the country are going to be meeting them and/or their staff members to support legislation that would help improve maternal health care in the United States. We may also be supporting legislation to address this issue globally. You can sign up to coordinate a meeting with your Congressman’s or Senator’s local office . We are aiming to hold meetings during the period of April 29th through May 8th. Once we have some coordinators approved, you will be able to see a list of meetings being organized in your area.

Look for me at the AGM

I will be arriving in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon and taking the redeye back on Sunday. It would be great to meet more NJ activists.

NJ Congressman Smith to attend Noble Prize Ceremony

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ4) and outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi have announced that they plan to attend the ceremony awarding the Nobel Prize to Chinese human rights activist/prisoner of conscience Liu Xiaobo.

Good op-ed piece on the DREAM Act

There is a good op-ed piece on the DREAM Act in the Times of Trenton: http://www.nj.com/opinion/times/oped/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1290840344228120.xml&coll=5. Amnesty supports this important piece of legislation to create a path to citizenship for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as minors.

Congressman Rothman Supports IVAWA! Now Let’s Pass It!

Congressman Steve Rothman became a cosponsor of the International Violence Against Women, joining NJ Representatives Holt, Payne, Sires, and Lance, as well as Senators Lautenberg and Menendez!

If you’re Representative is already on board, call his office to thank him and ask him to help move the legislation ahead. If he isn’t onboard yet, please call and urge him to support IVAWA!

It would also help to let Lautenberg and Menendez know that it is important to pass IVAWA before Congress adjourns and the whole process has to start over.

Now is the time to pass IVAWA!

As you may know, Amnesty has been working hard to pass the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in this congress and the one before it. We are very close, but not quite there! If Congress does not pass it before they adjourn in December, the whole process will have to start from scratch. Please call both of New Jersey’s Senators and your member of the House of Representatives and urge them to pass IVAWA before the end of this congress!

You can thank both Senators for cosponsoring IVAWA and urge them to make sure it gets passed—Senator Menendez is particularly important!

If you are a constituent of Sires, Payne, Holt, or Lance, thank them for cosponsoring IVAWA and urge them to work to get it passed. If you live in another district, urge your Representative to cosponsor the International Violence Against Women Act!

Women Around the World Need Sen. Menendez’s Help TOMORROW!

There is going to be a very important Senate committee meeting tomorrow at 2:15 on the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Amnesty wants to make sure that this important legislation is not changed in any way that would water down its effectiveness or hinder its passage. Senator Menendez is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a cosponsor of the bill. We have heard, however, that he may have a scheduling conflict. Women around the world need him to help protect and advance this important piece of legislation. Please call his DC office at 202-224- 4744 and urge him to be there!

Larry Ladutke
NJ Legislative Coordinator, AIUSA

AI:Urge Your Rep. to Support the MOMS for the 21st Century Act

As you may know, women in the United States are more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than women in 40 other countries. The odds are even worse for women of color. Congresswoman Lucile Roybal-Allard has introduced legislation to address this problem, the Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) for the 21st Century Act (HR 5807). Please call your House Member today and urge him to cosponsor this bill!

You can find out the name and contact information for your Representative by entering your zipcode at www.house.gov.

4 NJ Reps onboard the Global Moms Act

HR 5268 is aimed at reducing the epidemic of maternal mortality around the world. NJ cosponsors now include Payne, Sires, Rothman, and Holt!

Now let's get the rest of them onboard!

Tell Congress to Support Mexican Women Assaulted by Police

In 2006, dozens of women were reportedly sexually abused by police after being detained in a protest in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico. The Mexican Supreme Court and the Mexican Human Rights Commission have called for those responsible to be brought to justice, and a report from a Mexican federal government office has identified 34 state security agents responsible for abusing these women. Nonetheless, the state government has not moved forward.

Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Keith Ellison are circulating a letter calling on the federal government in Mexico to take action to bring the police agents who abused these women to justice. Please call your representative and urge him to join them by signing this letter.
AIUSA

Let’s Pass the International Violence Against Women Act!

It looks like the House of Representatives is almost ready to move forward on the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)! Amnesty International has been behind this legislation from the very start, along with a broad coalition of women’s groups, human rights organizations, humanitarian groups, and churches. It looks like the bill is going to be discussed and marked up later this month, and it is important that we get as many cosponsors onboard before that happens.

So far, New Jersey Congressmen Payne (District 10), Sires (District 13), and Holt (District 12) have signed on. Please thank them if you are one of their constituents.

If you live in another district, however, please call your representative’s office and urge him to cosponsor HR 4594, the International Violence Against Women Act. This legislation will coordinate our foreign policy efforts in the effort to end violence against women around the world, making them more efficient and effective.

It is especially important for you to call your representative if you live in districts 4 (Smith), 7 (Lance), or 11 (Frelinghuysen)!

Don’t know which district you live in? Go to www.house.gov and enter your zip code to get the name of your House Member and his office numbers!

Support the Global MOMS Act

Thanks to everyone who has helped with Amnesty’s efforts to address the maternal mortality crisis in the United States!

Amnesty is also working on this issue in other countries. Rep. Lois Capps of California has recently introduced the Global MOMS Act to provide family planning, screening, access to health workers, and post partum care to prevent many of the hundreds of thousands of needless deaths that happen every year. Amnesty is supporting this bill. Please call your Representative and urge him to support the Global MOMS Act!

See http://capps.house.gov/2010/05/capps-introduces-global-moms-bill-to-improve-maternal-health.shtml for more information!

You can find out the name and contact information for your House member by entering your zip code at www.house.gov.