Minutes for September 2020

In attendance: Jeff, Barbara, Bob, Tilo, Frank, Struan, Marsha

NOTE:  Meeting conducted online via Jitsi 

Barbara: presentation on Banned Books Week (see https://www.amnestyusa.org/banned-books-2020/)

• Banned Books Week started in 1982, organized by American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee
• Since 1990 Amnesty International has partnered with the ALA and other groups to promote Banned Book Week: the ALA focuses on banned books, and Amnesty focuses on journalists/writers who are persecuted

AIUSA's actions in support of Banned Book Week 2020 (can be submitted online or printed and send via snail-mail)

• Drop All Charges Against Masrat Zahra
• End the Prosecution of Yulia Tsvetkova
• Release Yang Hengjun Immediately
• Stop the Prosecution of Journalist Andrea Sahouri
• Drop All Charges Against Shakthika Sathkumara
• Release Nguyen Van Hoa Immediately
• Release Akram Al-Walidi Abdelkhaleq Amran, Hareth Hamid, and Tawfiq Al‐Mansouri and Drop Their Death Sentences

Jeff: discussion of AI report on police brutality in the USA (The World Is Watching)

• All 50 states out of compliance with international law re: policing
• “Amnesty International documented 125 separate incidents of police violence against protesters in 40 states and the District of Columbia between 26 May and 5 June 2020. These acts of excessive force were committed by members of state and local police departments, as well as by National Guard troops and security force personnel from several federal agencies. Among the abuses documented were beatings, the misuse of tear gas and pepper spray, and the inappropriate and at times indiscriminate firing of 'less lethal' projectiles, such as sponge rounds and rubber bullets."

Actions related to this report:

• Urge Your Governor: Stop Mass Violations of BLM Protesters' Rights by U.S. Police
• Demand Justice for George Floyd
• Tell Your Senators to Advance the Justice in Policing Act
• Call Your Two Senators and Tell Them to Pass the Justice in Policing Act

Group discussion of U.S. gun laws, police use of guns and other weapons, upcoming elections

Next meeting (online): Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 7:30 p.m.