Amnesty International of Herkimer College joined citizens throughout the world, and wrote, sent emails and signed petitions on Alexandra (Sasha) Skochilenko’s behalf, much like Herkimer College’s group did for WNBA’s Brittney Griner.
See below for updated information on Sasha, who was sentenced to seven years in a Russian prison. Happily, on August 1, 2024, Aleksandra was released from prison as part of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/impact/2024/10/your-words-change-peoples-lives/
Banned Books Month
In October’s action, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL of Herkimer College, works with AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA to raise awareness about National Banned Books Week (celebrated in September). Here at Herkimer we are going right into October Banned Books month, where Amnesty International USA/HC chapter is highlighting 13 cases of individuals or communities whose human rights are under attack because of their work as authors, journalists, bloggers, filmmakers, poets, novelists, photojournalists, publishers, academics, musicians, and librarians.
- PLEASE USE YOUR FREEDOMS TO HELP OTHER’S GAIN THEIRS.
- THANKS TO THE HC COMMUNITY AND ALL WORLD CITIZENS WHO “DID SOMETHING!”
- MAKE A DIFFERENCE! “DO SOMETHING!”
- “INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
October Cases and Opportunities for Action
USE THE LINK TO LEARN MORE AND PLEASE CONSIDER ACTING ON EACH!
- GRAFFITI AND PROTEST ARTISTS – FEATURED: Pierina Nochetti-ARGENTINA/ Sasha Skochilenko-RUSSIA
- ARTISTS AND ART COLLECTIVES – FEATURED: Chen Pinlin -CHINA / Toomaj Salehi – IRAN
- SOCIAL MEDIA CONTRIBUTORS – FEATURED: Manahel al-Otaibi – SAUDI ARABIA, / Kamile Wayit – CHINA / Ana da Silva Miguel (aka Neth Nahara) – ANGOLA
- LIBRARIANS, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS – FEATURED: Etienne Fakaba Sissoko – MALI / The BK 16 –INDIA / “Unite Against Book Bans” – UNITED STATES
- JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WORKERS – FEATURED: Alberto Amaro – MEXICO / Maria Ponomarenko – RUSSIA / Nidal al-Waheidi and Haitham Abdelwahed – ISRAEL AND GAZA