• Press Release

Join Amnesty International Youth Activists and Speak Out to Protect Turkey’s Right to Peaceful Protest

June 21, 2013

Event takes place Friday, June 21st at Union Square, NYC from 7-9 p.m.

Contact: Jason Rosenberg, 212-633-4179; [email protected]; Amnesty USA Media, [email protected], 202-509-8194, @AIUSAmedia

(NEW YORK) – Peaceful protesters in Turkey continue to face an appalling amount of violence and abuse from police forces throughout Istanbul and neighboring cities. In a show of support and solidarity for those who merely want to exercise their right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest, Amnesty International USA’s youth activists will be holding a demonstration in Union Square, Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. to raise awareness and have people participate in Amnesty International’s Urgent Action.

EVENT: Protect Turkey’s Right to Peaceful Protest

DATE: Friday, June 21st
TIME: 7 to 9 p.m.
LOCATION: Union Square Park

Since May 31, thousands of protesters have been injured as Turkish police continue to use excessive force in an attempt to disperse them. Amnesty International has seen a growing body of evidence of police brutality, including extensive use of tear gas and water cannons against nonviolent protesters. Video footage taken at the scene of demonstrations has shown police officers kicking visibly defenseless protesters and even beating them with batons.

This is an urgent crisis and we need to ensure that human rights are protected. If you are unable to join us in person, please help by joining our urgent action on the issue and help stop the police repression against activists in Turkey.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists, and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth, and dignity are denied.