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Amnesty International USA Group 48
Newsletter7.15
1 CHINA: Urgent Action - Fears For Two Activists Detained In
China
3 US Supreme Court Lethal Injection Decision Glossip v.
Gross
4 Burundi Action for Komera, Turikumwe Campaign: Justine
Nkurunziza
5 Amnesty International Report Finds That All 50 States Fail to
Meet International Standards on the Use of Lethal Force by
Police
6 Supreme Court Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human Rights
CHINA: Urgent Action - Fears For Two Activists Detained In
ChinaGuo Bin (m) and Yang Zhangqing (m)
Two activists associated with the prominent anti-discrimination
NGO Yirenping were detained on 12 June on suspicion of illegal
business opera-tions. Guo Bin and Yang Zhangqing have since been
transferred to Henan province, but their exact whereabouts are
unknown. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Guo Bin, director of Zhongyixing (also named ACTogether), an
advocacy NGO promoting the human rights of disad-vantaged groups,
was taken away by police on June 12th from the bedside of his
two-year-old son who was recover-ing at a hospital in Shenzhen,
Guang-dong province. On the same day, Yang Zhangqing, who has
worked on Hepa-titis B carriers rights and is involved in
activism on consumer rights, was taken from his home in Huizhou,
Guangdong province. Both activists have previ-ously worked for
Yirenping, one of China most famous NGOs, which fights against the
discrimination of women, disabled people, LGBTI people and those
with pre-existing health condi-tions.
On June 15th, the activists were transferred to Henan province.
Police verbally told the families that Guo Bin and Yang Zhangqing
were detained on suspicion of operating illegal busi-ness but did
not give them any writ-ten notification. Yang Zhangqing was
reported to be held at the Zhengzhou #3 Detention center, but when
his lawyer visited on 17 June, the detention center
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 2
staff said that he was not there. Guo Bins lawyer has not been
able to find him at either the Zhengzhou #2 or #3 detention
centers.
Their detention appears to be due to their connection with
Yirenping, and part of a wider crackdown on civil society groups in
China. Yirenpings office was raided by police in March, and many
former employees and volunteers of Yirenping have reported being
harassed or intimidated by the authorities in recent months.
Action Please write immediately in Chinese, English or your own
language:
Calling on the authorities to immediately and uncondition-ally
release Guo Bin and Yang Zhangqing;
Asking them to immediately confirm the whereabouts of Guo Bin
and Yang Zhangqing;
Calling on them to ensure that pending their release, Guo Bin
and Yang Zhangqing have regular, unrestricted access to their
lawyers and families, to any medical treatment they may require,
and are protected from torture and other ill-treatment.
Appeals To PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE JULY 29th 2015 TO:
Xie Fuzhan Henan Sheng Renmin Zhengfu Nongye Lu Dong 28 hao
Hennan Ribao Baoye Dasha 11 Lou Dong Bangongting Peoples Republic
of China Salutation: Dear Governor
Henan Public Security Bureau Chief Wang Xiaohong Henan Sheng
Gongan Ting Zhengzhou Shi Jinshui Lu 9 hao Peoples Republic of
China Salutation: Dear Director
Copies To Minister of Public Security Guo Kunsheng Buzhang 14
Dongchangan jie Dongcheng Qu Beijing Shi 100741 Peoples Republic of
China Fax: 011 86 10 6626 2550 Salutation: Your Excellency
Ambassador Cui Tiankai Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China
3505 International Place NW Washington, DC 20008
Additional Information NGOs across China in different provinces
and working in different fields have come under intense scrutiny in
recent years by state security, who often question them repeatedly
about any links to foreign funding. Some NGOs have sim-ply been
shut down. Weizhiming, a Hangzhou-based NGO working on womens
rights and corporate and social respon-sibility, had to shut down
in late May due to the pressure put on it when its director, Wu
Rongrong, was detained along with other female activists earlier in
the year. The Transition Institute, one of Chinas few independent
research institutions on social and economic issues, was forced to
shut down and its former staff members have faced intimidating
police inter-rogation.
Both Guo Bin and Yang Zhangqing had previously worked with
Yirenping, one of Chinas most famous NGOs work-ing on
anti-discrimination issues on behalf of people with pre-existing
health conditions, people living with HIV/AIDS, and LGBTI issues.
Guo Bin was the director of Yirenpings Zhengzhou office from 2007
to 2009, and he oversaw much of the organizations employment
discrimination lawsuits on behalf of people who have Hepatitis B.
Yang Zhangqing ran the legal section of Chinas most popular
Hepatitis B support website Gandan Xiangzhao, and he later was the
director of Zhengzhou Yirenping.
After the five female activists were released on bail in April,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said that
Governor of Henan Province
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 3
Yirenping would be punished. According to a recent Yiren-ping
statement, many former employees and volunteers of Yirenping are
suffering extra-legal harassment and intimida-tion by the
authorities.
China is seeking to further restrict the operations of NGOs. In
May, the authorities released for consultation the draft Foreign
NGO Management Law, which if promulgated in its current form, would
jeopardize the activities or existence of numerous organizations
and have a chilling effect on Chinese
civil society. It would also give police new unchecked powers
over foreign NGOs, with the very real risk that the law could be
misused to intimidate and prosecute human rights defend-ers and NGO
workers for their legitimate work. Amnesty International made a
submission to the Chinese govern-ment, urging that the draft law be
withdrawn or substantially amended in order to make it compatible
with international human rights law and standards, see:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/1776/2015/en/
US Supreme Court Lethal Injection Decision Glossip v. Gross by
Terrie Rodello, AIUSA Oregon State Death Penalty Abolition
Coordinator
execution method. Justice Breyer concludes by revealing that he
believes it highly likely that the death penalty violates the
constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishments.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr51/1976/2015/en/
When discussing Glossip, the most important point is NOT to get
into the weeds of lethal injections technicalities; instead, pivot
to the bigger picture of the death penaltys many funda-mental flaws
and its continued decline in the US and abroad.
Regardless of method, the death penalty is broken beyond repair.
Tinkering with methods won't fix the death penalty's fundamental
flaws, like:
The risk of executing an innocent person
Significantly greater costs than alternatives
Bias against racial and ethnic minorities
Fundamental denial of human rights
The majority of the US has abandoned the death penalty in law or
practice:
Most states dont use the death penalty - in 2014 only 7 states
carried out executions
In 2014 only 3 states accounted for 80% of all executions: TX,
MO, FL
19 states + DC have abolished the death penalty, including
Nebraska just a few weeks ago
Executions and death sentences have steadily declined in
On June 29, 2015, the US Supreme Court issued their deci-sion in
Glossip v. Gross, voting 5-4 in favor of allowing lethal injections
to proceed using midazolam. Here is a quote from Steve Hawkins,
AIUSAs Executive Director, that AIUSA released in response:
This decision does not change the fact that regardless of the
method of execution, the death penalty is broken beyond repair. The
death penalty is the ultimate violation of human rights. The Courts
decision today will not resolve the death penaltys fundamental
flaws, including the risk of executing a wrongfully convicted
person. The only discussion should be how to put an end to this
cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment once and for all.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/amnesty-international-usa-responds-to-supreme-court-decision-on-lethal-injection
The Amnesty International Secretariat issued the following
statement, focusing on a statement in a dissenting opinion, which
calls on the Supreme Court to hear arguments about the
constitutionality of the death penalty per se, regardless of
Brian Hoskins Stock.Xchng
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 4
the US for decades
Finally, here are some sample tweets provided by coalition
partners.
#deathpenalty is currently trending on Twitter, so now is a
great time to join the conversation and amplify our message!
Justice Breyer Researchers have found convincing evidence that,
in the past 3 decades, innocent people have been
executed#deathpenaltyJustice Breyer w/ 20yrs in Court the death
penalty...now likely constitutes a legally prohibited cruel and
unusual pun-ishment. #Glossip
Justice Breyer on#deathpenalty Almost 40 years of studies,
surveys, and experience strongly indicate... that this effort has
failed.
Justice Breyer on #Glossip Almost 40 years of studies, surveys,
and experience strongly indicate... that this effort has
failed.
Despite #Glossip decision, support for the #deathpenalty has
rapidly eroded and majority of states have abandoned it in law or
practice
In last 8 yrs, 7 states have recognized the #deathpenalty is
broken from beginning to end. Now Justice Breyer recognizes it too.
#Glossip
Burundi Action for Komera, Turikumwe Campaign: Justine
Nkurunzizathis action to your activist networks who may be
interested in taking action.
Action 1 Please consider sending the following tweets: Stand in
Solidarity with Justine Nkurunziza. Check out her profile!
#KomeraTurikumwe #WeStandWithBurundi
Justine Nkurunziza should be free to exercise her right to work
as a human rights defender#KomeraTurikumwe #We Stand with
Burundi
#BurundiGov must end harassments against human rights defenders.
#KomeraTurikumwe #WeStandWithBurundi #BurundiGov must ensure a
favorable space for civil societys work. #Komeraturikumwe
#WeStandWithBurundi
Copy the following Burundi Government Official Accounts: On
Twitter: @BdiPresidence @willynyamitwe
Justine Nkurunziza, chair of the Civil Society Coalition for
Electoral Monitoring COSOME, is profiled this week in the Burundi
for Komera, Turikumwe Campaign. She plays an important speaker for
civil society on electoral matters. In March 2015, she was named
one of the Women of Courage by the US Embassy in Burundi for her
work in promoting equal-ity for women in Burundi.
Since the beginning of the electoral crisis in Burundi earlier
this year, Justine Nkurunziza has advocated for inclusive,
transparent and democratic elections in Burundi. She told Amnesty
International that she has learned that she is a target of a youth
group affiliated with the ruling party due to her advocacy
work.
Please see also Amnesty International press release on media
clampdown in Burundi.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/06/burundi-media-clampdown-intensifies-after-coup-attempt/
Actions Please take one or all of the following actions.
Encourage the members of your AIUSA group to take action and
distribute
Mikhail PopovStock.Xchng
Within the United States $0.34 - Postcards $0.49 - Letters and
Cards up to 1 oz.
To all international destinations $1.15 - Postcards $1.15 -
Airmail Letters and Cards up to 1 oz.
Postage Rates
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 5
On Facebook:www.facebook.com/PresidenceBurundi
Action 2 Take a picture of yourself and your group members with
a solidarity message such as In Solidarity with Justine Nkurun-ziza
Komera, Turikumwe!
Please email them to the following:
http://www.facebook.com/Nkurunziza.Justine
Action 3 Please write a letter or email to the President of
Burundi with a copy to the Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi in
Washington DC making the following points:
The Government of Burundi must:
Take all necessary measures to ensure Justin Nkurunzizas
security.
Ensure that human rights defenders can work in a safe
envi-ronment in Burundi without fear of reprisals.
Appeals To President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza Office of the
President BP 1870 Bujumbura, Burundi Fax: 011 257 22 24 89 08
Email: [email protected] Salutation: Your Excellency
Copies To His Excellency Ernest NDABASHINZE Ambassador of the
Republic of Burundi 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 408 Washington, DC
20007 E-mail: [email protected] Fax:1 202 342 2578
Please let me know if there are any questions by emailing me at
[email protected]
Amnesty International Report Finds That All 50 States Fail to
Meet International Standards on the Use of Lethal Force by
PoliceJune 18th, 2015
Police have a fundamental obligation to protect human life.
Deadly force must be reserved as a method of absolute last resort,
said Steven W. Hawkins, executive director of Am-nesty
International USA. The fact that absolutely no state laws conform
to this standard is deeply disturbing and raises serious human
rights concerns. Reform is needed and it is needed immediately.
Lives are at stake.
The report is based on a review of the use of force statutes
within the United States. Amnesty International reviewed relevant
U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Department of Justice guidelines
on the use of deadly force, and available sta-tistical data,
including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
In addition to finding that all state laws are overly broad and
allow for police to justifiably use force in a wide range of
cir-cumstances, failing to meet international standards, thirteen
states also fail to meet the lower standards set by U.S.
con-stitutional law on the use of lethal force by law enforcement
officers.
A new report by Amnesty International USA finds that all 50
states and the District of Columbia fail to comply with
international standards on the use of lethal force by law
enforcement officers, which require that lethal force should only
be used as a last resort when strictly necessary to protect
themselves or others against imminent threat of death or seri-ous
injury.
Deadly Force: Police Use of Lethal Force in the United
Stat-escalls for reform at the state and federal levels to ensure
that laws are brought into line with international law and
stan-dards.
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 6
Nine states and the District of Columbia have no laws on the use
of lethal force, including Maryland Wisconsin, Massachu-setts,
Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and
Wyoming.
The report also found that none of the states use of lethal
force statutes include accountability mechanisms and that statutes
that are overly broad and allow for the use of le-thal force
outside the strict criteria set by international law contribute to
a cycle of impunity that prevents holding law enforcement officers
accountable.
At present, there are no official national statistics tracking
police use of force, including police-related deaths or injuries in
the United States. Estimates of people killed annually by law
enforcement range from 400 to 1000. According to the limited
government data available, African Americans are
dis-proportionately affected by the use of lethal force. The
African American population of the U.S. is 13 percent but makes up
27 percent of those killed by law enforcement.
The report calls for the Department of Justice to collect and
publish statistics and data on police shootings and to sort the
data by race, gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender
identity and indigenous status.
A nationwide review of lethal force laws, policies and train-ing
is urgently needed, said Hawkins. We are calling on the president
and the Department of Justice to create a national task force to
carry out this review and institute compre-hensive reforms,
including of oversight and accountability mechanisms. If the United
States is to comply with its interna-tional legal obligations,
these policies must be brought in line with international
standards.
Key findings of the report include: All 50 states and DC fail to
comply with international stan-dards on the use of lethal force by
law enforcement officers, which require that lethal force should
only be used as a last resort when strictly necessary to protect
themselves or others against imminent threat of death or serious
injury.
None of the state statutes require that the use of lethal force
may only be used as a last resort with non-violent and less harmful
means to be tried first.
No state limits the use of lethal force to only those situations
where there is an imminent threat to life or serious injury to the
officer or to others.
Nine states and the District of Columbia have no laws on use of
lethal force. (Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, South
Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyo-ming)
Thirteen states have laws that do not comply with U.S.
consti-tutional standards on use of lethal force. (Alabama;
Califor-nia; Delaware; Florida; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; New
Jersey; New York; Oregon; Rhode Island; South Dakota; and
Vermont)
Nine states allow lethal force to suppress a riot. (Arizona,
Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,
Vermont and Washington)
The Supreme Court of the United States today delivered a
historic ruling affirming the right of same-sex couples across the
country to legally marry.
This is a joyous day not just for loving and com-mitted same-sex
couples, but for everyone who believes in human rights and equality
for all, said Steven W. Hawkins, executive director of Amnesty
International USA.
The ability to marry the partner of your choice and raise a
family is a human right enshrined in international law. While much
work remains to be done to ensure that all forms of discrimina-tion
against LGBT people are eliminated once and for all, this
long-awaited and significant decision affirms that same-sex couples
and their families deserve the same respect and recogni-tion as
anyone else.
Supreme Court Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human Rights
June 26, 2015
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AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 7
Twenty-two states allow for law enforcement officers to kill
someone trying to escape from a prison or jail, regardless of
whether or not they pose a threat. (Alabama, Colorado, Delaware,
Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi,
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota
and Washington)
Only eight states require a verbal warning be given before law
enforcement uses lethal force. (Connecticut, Florida, Indiana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, Utah and Washington)
Only three states mandate officers be careful of bystanders when
using law enforcement. (Delaware, Hawaii and New Jersey)
Twenty states allow citizens to use lethal force if they carry
out law enforcement activities, such as assisting an officer with
an arrest. (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Texas and Washington)
Zero states have a provision in the state law on police use of
lethal force that establishes specific accountability mecha-nisms
for the use of lethal force by officers, such as obliga-tory
reporting that a firearm has been used or that there be a prompt,
thorough, independent and impartial investigation with a view to
prosecution.
Key Recommendations All state legislatures should introduce or
amend statutes that authorize the use of lethal force to ensure
that they are in line with international standards by limiting the
use of lethal force by law enforcement to those instances in which
it is neces-sary to protect against the threat of death or serious
injury. The statutes should be brought into compliance with the
U.N. Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the Basic
Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforce-ment
Officials.
The president and Department of Justice should support the
creation of a national commission (National Crime and Jus-tice Task
Force) to examine and produce recommendations
on policing issues, including a nationwide review of police use
of lethal force laws, policies, training and practices, which is
urgently needed, as well as a thorough review and reform of
oversight and accountability mechanisms. These laws, poli-cies and
practices must be brought in line with international standards.
The Department of Justice must ensure the collection and
publication of nationwide statistics on police shootings in
accordance with the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act
(1994) and the Death in Custody Act (2014). The data collected
should be disaggregated on the basis of race, gen-der, age,
nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and indigenous
status.
Congress should take legislative action to ensure that all
federal, state and local law enforcement officials restrict their
use of lethal force in compliance with international law and
standards. This should include enacting legislation requiring all
law enforcement agencies to review and amend their poli-cies by
limiting the use of lethal force to those instances in which it is
necessary to protect against the threat of death or serious injury.
Congress should also pass the Police Report-ing Information, Data,
and Evidence Act and the End Racial Profiling Act.
Group CoordinatorJoanne [email protected]
TreasurerTena [email protected]
Newsletter EditorDan [email protected]
Darfur (Sudan)Marty [email protected]
IndonesiaMax [email protected]
Prisoners CasesJane [email protected]
Megan Harringtonmegan.harrington @gmail.com
Concert TablingWill [email protected]
Central Africa/ OR State Death Penalty AbolitionTerrie
[email protected]
AIUSA Group 48 Contact Information
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Postage
AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015 Pg 8
AIUSA group 48 Newsletter July 2015
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CHINA: Urgent Action - Fears For Two Activists Detained In
ChinaUS Supreme Court Lethal Injection Decision Glossip v. Gross
Burundi Action for Komera, Turikumwe Campaign: Justine
NkurunzizaAmnesty International Report Finds That All 50 States
Fail to Meet International Standards on the Use of Lethal Force by
PoliceSupreme Court Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human RightsJune
26, 2015
CHINA: Urgent Action - Fears For Two Activists Detained In
ChinaUS Supreme Court Lethal Injection Decision Glossip v. Gross
Burundi Action for Komera, Turikumwe Campaign: Justine
NkurunzizaAmnesty International Report Finds That All 50 States
Fail to Meet International Standards on the Use of Lethal Force by
PoliceSupreme Court Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human RightsJune
26, 2015
Group 48 Membership
