The possibility of massive human rights violations is real. Act Now »

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Dear John,

Like you, I am deeply troubled by what I see happening in our country right now,
and what may happen after the election. The widespread availability of guns in
this country, combined with the incitement to violence and the enabling and
abetting of white supremacy — at the highest levels of government — has put many
people across the country at risk.

No matter what the election outcome is, we need to call on our state and local
leaders to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all people.

That’s why we’re organizing an effort to contact governors and mayors across the
country in the lead-up to the election. They are the ones that oversee police
departments and decide whether to deploy the National Guard in their
communities. Act now to tell your governor and mayor: you must respect the right to peaceful
protest, and keep protesters and communities safe from violence and armed
intimidation.
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We watched in horror as this summer, U.S. law enforcement officers used heavy-duty riot gear and military-grade weapons to police and intimidate protesters at peaceful demonstrations across the
country. Amnesty International documented 125 incidents of police violence
against protesters across 40 states in less than two weeks.

This all happened while government officials at many levels have committed or
condoned human rights violations, leaving the country dangerously vulnerable to
those who prefer inequity to fairness, hate over unity, and impunity over
justice.

Now, as we approach Election Day, there’s some chance for weeks of uncertainty
around the outcome… and the strong potential for more demonstrations. The possibility of massive human rights violations — by law enforcement
officers and potentially by armed individuals and private groups — is real.

Amnesty International is prepared to deploy an expert crisis response team to
investigate potential human rights violations in the crucial weeks ahead — but we need to call on our state and local leaders to uphold human rights and
protect their constituents at all costs.

ACT NOW
[[link removed]]This is urgent, John: we MUST make sure that police
departments across the country put human rights first and do not use excessive
force against protesters. We MUST make sure our leaders denounce racism,
discrimination, and hate — and take special measures to protect individuals and
communities from armed individuals and armed groups.

We MUST do this all by making sure that our governors and mayors are accountable
for their important roles. Tell your governor and mayor: take steps to protect the right to peacefully
protest, and keep your communities safe from violent and armed intimidation.
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Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of freedom. It is a right, not a privilege.
But that right is under attack, and in this moment, we must pull out all the
stops to defend it.

Sincerely,

Rachel Ward
Director of Research
Amnesty International USA

P.S. To stay independent, we rely on donations from people like you. Please — make an emergency gift to support our work. Any amount will make a
difference.
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