[INSIDER UPDATE] The humanitarian crisis in Sudan

Plus: Guantánamo prisoner Said Bakush released >> [View in Browser]( Hi {NAME}, Some weeks this work feels heavier than others. I’m sure you’ve felt that same feeling — maybe you watched more news than usual or read about a heartbreaking human rights story. My mind is often split between many hard stories. Right now I keep thinking of Sudan. The news of the crisis in Sudan has been unsettling. I hope you’ll take the time to read more about it below — and [contribute your voice to our calls for humanitarian aid.]( As tough as the news often is, together we can always find hope. Today, we have a critical win to share regarding the Guantánamo Bay detention center. Your continued support as an Amnesty member is part of wins like this. [WIN: Guantánamo prisoner Said Bakush released!]( We’ve been campaigning for the U.S. to close Guantánamo Bay detention center for years. The prison has been a stain on the human rights record of the U.S. — a symbol of torture, indefinite detention, and injustice — for more than twenty years. Late last month, detainee Said Bakush was released and repatriated to his home country of Algeria after officials said his detention was no longer necessary. This is a major step in the right direction. While 30 more men remain at Guantánamo, each person released or transferred gets us one step closer to closing Guantánamo for good. We’ve been calling on President Biden to close Guantánamo, but he has yet to take decisive action. Alongside people like you, we’ll continue to [raise our voices and call for change.]( [HOW TO TAKE ACTION]( [HIGHLIGHT: IT’S TIME TO CLOSE ADELANTO ICE DETENTION CENTER]( In San Bernardino county, California, the Adelanto ICE Detention Center looms large. Inside, asylum-seekers say their health is at risk from contaminated water and harmful practices by GEO Group, the private company that runs — and profits off of — Adelanto. Our Executive Director, Paul O’Brien, and California Organizer, Jessward Docena, visited the detention center in March. [In an op-ed]( for the Orange County Register, Paul describes the toxic environment at Adelanto and the people who are fighting back. ICE facilities like Adelanto are no place for asylum-seekers. They’re inhumane and unsafe — and we’ll keep fighting until they’re shut down. [READ THE STORY]( [EMERGENCY: HUMANITARIAN AID NEEDED IN SUDAN]( The situation in Sudan right now is dire. Only a few weeks ago, violence erupted between military forces in Sudan. Since then, the fighting has spread throughout the country and hundreds of civilians have been killed in the crossfire. As Sherene Tadros, Deputy Director for Advocacy and U.N. representative for Amnesty International, writes in The Los Angeles Times, the [U.S. should help people in Sudan before the violences gets worse.]( Right now, Sudanese civilians have few options. They can stay where they are and hope the fighting doesn’t reach their door, or they can flee to the closest border with no guarantee they’ll be let in. One of the most critical needs to help Sudan during this crisis is humanitarian funding. [We’re asking Congress to do the right thing and help people in Sudan. Will you join us?]( People in Sudan need help, and the global community must respond. That’s why we need loyal Amnesty members like you to take action. [ACT NOW FOR SUDAN]( [Are you liking your Amnesty Impact overview? Let us know!]( [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]( YOUR AMNESTY FIRSTS We recently asked Amnesty supporters to [share your “Amnesty Firsts.”]( We’re inspired and touched by your answers. You are what keeps Amnesty going and we hope you find these stories from your fellow Amnesty members inspiring, too. “I started an Amnesty chapter in my high school in Chattanooga, TN when I was 16. This was probably my first introduction to human rights work, and it changed my life.” — Nida “...After encouragement from AI to start [a chapter], we had the first meeting in December of 1988 and established group 471. One of the first [actions] has stayed with me for decades. It was for the playwright/activist Vaclav Havel. We did letters and later got word of his release. My thoughts were, this really works and I was hooked.” — Kathryn “My high school had an Amnesty International club. During a Meet the Clubs event I wrote letters with them during the Bosnian genocide during the mid 1990s and drew flowers on postcards being sent to Prisoners of Conscience around the world. It was the first time that I felt like I could take actions to make the world just a little better. After graduating, I became an individual member and have been ever since.” — Theresa “After hearing former detainees speak on 'This American Life'... I became interested in sending letters to detainees. It was Christmas time so many years ago now, and Amnesty provided names of detainees for a letter writing campaign. I wrote letters to those men on Amnesty's list. Ever since I have followed Amnesty's work and participated in several more campaigns sending letters to help free prisoners of conscience all over the world.” — Chung Thank you for sharing your “Amnesty Firsts” with us! If you’re feeling inspired and ready to take action after reading those stories, I’m right there with you. I hope you’ll hold on to that feeling of inspiration. We have some exciting opportunities coming up during Amnesty Week, when we’ll celebrate 62 years since our founding. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to make an extra special donation, keep an eye on your email for a chance to have your impact multiplied! Thank you for taking a few minutes today. I know that paying attention can sometimes be hard — I feel that, too. But I hope you always remember that this community is capable of creating incredible, positive change for human rights around the world. 🕯️, Billie Hirsch Senior Director of Online Engagement Amnesty International USA P.S. Looking for a consistent way to defend human rights around the world? [Become a monthly supporter today. A generous group of donors are matching new monthly gifts for an entire year — meaning your donation will go 12x as far.]( [If you begin today, a generous group of Amnesty donors will match the first 12 months of your contribution -- doubling your impact all year. Start donating today!]( And if you’re not in a position to start a monthly donation right now, that’s OK! [Make a one-time contribution to support human rights here.]( [DONATE NOW]( © 2023 Amnesty International USA 311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY Please don't reply to this email. You can send questions to aimember@aiusa.org. We’re so happy you’re here to hear about the most important updates on human rights! If necessary, you can [opt to receive fewer emails]( or [unsubscribe here](. [supporter]