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Press Release

Amnesty International USA released the following statement from End Gun Violence Manager Ernest Coverson after reports emerged of a mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx warehouse, which is reported to have resulted in the death of at least eight people. 

April 16, 2021

Update

On April 15, 2021, Amnesty International USA joined more than 75 organizations and 40 professors in a letter to to Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas urging that the Biden administration take steps to create a welcoming, effective, and timely asylum system that enhances – and does not sacrifice – due process and compliance with U.S. refugee law and treaty obligations. Click here to read the letter Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas: In the wake of recent reports that the Biden administration is considering systemic asylum reforms, we write to urge steps to create a welcoming, effective, and…

April 16, 2021

Press Release

In advance of a vote in the Senate on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S.937) and Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (S.2043), Joanne Lin, National Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at Amnesty International USA, said: “Passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and NO HATE ACT are critical to ensure the United States justice system has the people and resources needed to provide justice and accountability for anti-Asian hate crimes. No one should live in fear of violence and harassment simply for who they are. “We have seen the horrifying consequences of racist and demonizing language in relation to the…

April 15, 2021

Update

On April 14, 2020, Amnesty International wrote to members of the Senate in support of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S.937), sponsored by Sen. Hirono, and the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality (“Jabara-Heyer NO HATE”) Act (S.2043, H.R.3545), sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal. Click here to read the letter April 14, 2021 Amnesty International USA urges a vote “YES” the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S.937) and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (S.2043, H.R.3545) Dear Senator: On behalf of Amnesty International USA, we urge you to vote YES on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S.937),…

April 14, 2021

Update

On April 13, 2021, Amnesty International USA submitted a statement for the record urging the House Judiciary Committee to pass the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act (H.R. 1333) and the Access to Counsel Act (H.R. 1573) and send these bills to the full House of Representatives for speedy consideration. Click here to read the statement April 13, 2021 The Honorable Jerrold Nadler Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives Room 2132 Rayburn House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515 The Honorable Jim Jordan Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives Room…

April 14, 2021

Press Release

Responding to reports that the Biden administration plans to move forth on a Trump administration plan to sell weaponry worth approximately $23 billion to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA said: “These are not the actions of a President committed to upholding human rights in the United States and abroad. The startling fact that the Biden administration continues the previous administration’s unflinching support of providing weapons that risk adding to the devastating toll of Yemeni civilians unlawfully killed and injured by United States-made weapons should…

April 14, 2021

Press Release

Responding to the April 11 fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer in Minnesota, Kristina Roth, Senior Advocate for Criminal Justice Programs at Amnesty International USA, said: “The Amnesty movement is saddened that yet another Black father, son and partner was taken from his family as a result of the actions of police...

April 13, 2021

Press Release

Saturday, Maryland's legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto to enact meaningful policing reform. In response, Kristina Roth, Senior Advocate for Criminal Justice Programs at Amnesty International USA, released the following statement: 

April 12, 2021

Press Release

Today, Amnesty International USA released the following statements to support President Joe Biden’s plan to announce several actions geared towards reducing gun violence. The actions include: 

April 8, 2021

Report

The global pandemic has exposed the terrible legacy of deliberately divisive and destructive policies that have perpetuated inequality, discrimination and oppression and paved the way for the devastation wrought by COVID-19, Amnesty International said in its annual report published today. Amnesty International Report 2020/21: The State of the World’s Human Rights covers 149 countries and delivers a comprehensive analysis of human rights trends globally in 2020. In it, the organization describes those already most marginalized, including women and refugees, as bearing the devastating brunt of the pandemic, as a result of decades of discriminatory policy decisions by world leaders. Health workers,…

April 6, 2021

Update

On April 6, 2021, Amnesty International USA sent a letter to Ambassador Anatoly Antonov of the Russian Federation calling for the Kremlin to release political activist Alexsei Navalny and to provide him with access to a medical professional of his choosing. Navalny narrowly survived what has since been independently confirmed as poisoning by Novichok nerve agent on August 20, 2020. Following his medical treatment in Berlin, Navalny returned to Russia on January 17, 2021 and was immediately arrested by security services. Just weeks later, a Moscow judge ruled that he must go to prison for violating the terms of a…

April 6, 2021

Press Release

In response to a statement today by the Department of Defense reiterating that the United States would continue to develop and use landmines, Adotei Akwei, the advocacy director at Amnesty International USA said: “It is hard to imagine a policy more outdated and destructive than United States policy on antipersonnel landmines. The decision to continue the development and deployment of landmines is deadly and dangerous. The Biden administration must immediately reverse this decision and it should join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. “Landmines are inherently indiscriminate weapons that maim and kill long after conflicts end. They should not have a place…

April 6, 2021