I got this from Amnesty International:
Dear Tracy,
We're honestly not sure how the Russian authorities are going to react to our Pussy Riot world map.
The Russian authorities recently banned Pussy Riot's videos as "extremist". And last August, the Russian Embassy in Washington tossed Amnesty's petitions to the curb - literally - and refused to hear our concerns about human rights in Russia.
But on March 4, the one-year anniversary of Pussy Riot's arrest, we will not be silent. Two Pussy Riot members, Maria "Masha" Alyokhina and Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova, remain behind bars in notoriously brutal prison camps. Last Wednesday we danced outside the Russian Embassy to commemorate Pussy Riot's performance - now we're heading back with our map of Pussy Riot's supporters around the globe.
We only have a few more days left to add as many names as possible to our map. Stand for Pussy Riot and free speech in Russia -- get on the map!
It's been a whirlwind year since Pussy Riot's iconic "punk prayer" performance at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Arrests, courtrooms, lawyers, political posturing by the Russian authorities and President Putin -- all culminating in Masha and Nadya's outlandishly harsh two-year sentences, at prison camps far from their families and young children.
But the women of Pussy Riot were never alone. From Twitter to rock shows to handwritten letters, hundreds of thousands have called on the Russian authorities to #FreePussyRiot. More than 100 of Russia's best-known actors, directors and musicians signed a letter calling for their release. Madonna played a Moscow concert with "Pussy Riot" emblazoned across her back. Amnesty activists threw a full-fledged punk concert steps from the Russian Embassy in Washington DC. Star musicians like Sting and Anti-Flag added their names to our Pussy Riot world map in solidarity -- along with thousands of other activists like you.
One year later, Pussy Riot needs us to speak out -- more than ever. Why now? Because Pussy Riot continues to be a symbol of the Russian authorities' unreasonable crackdown on freedom of expression in Russia -- and the attacks on free speech in Russia are only getting worse with some disturbing new laws.
Did you know that:
We're honestly not sure how the Russian authorities are going to react to our Pussy Riot world map.
The Russian authorities recently banned Pussy Riot's videos as "extremist". And last August, the Russian Embassy in Washington tossed Amnesty's petitions to the curb - literally - and refused to hear our concerns about human rights in Russia.
But on March 4, the one-year anniversary of Pussy Riot's arrest, we will not be silent. Two Pussy Riot members, Maria "Masha" Alyokhina and Nadezhda "Nadya" Tolokonnikova, remain behind bars in notoriously brutal prison camps. Last Wednesday we danced outside the Russian Embassy to commemorate Pussy Riot's performance - now we're heading back with our map of Pussy Riot's supporters around the globe.
We only have a few more days left to add as many names as possible to our map. Stand for Pussy Riot and free speech in Russia -- get on the map!
It's been a whirlwind year since Pussy Riot's iconic "punk prayer" performance at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. Arrests, courtrooms, lawyers, political posturing by the Russian authorities and President Putin -- all culminating in Masha and Nadya's outlandishly harsh two-year sentences, at prison camps far from their families and young children.
But the women of Pussy Riot were never alone. From Twitter to rock shows to handwritten letters, hundreds of thousands have called on the Russian authorities to #FreePussyRiot. More than 100 of Russia's best-known actors, directors and musicians signed a letter calling for their release. Madonna played a Moscow concert with "Pussy Riot" emblazoned across her back. Amnesty activists threw a full-fledged punk concert steps from the Russian Embassy in Washington DC. Star musicians like Sting and Anti-Flag added their names to our Pussy Riot world map in solidarity -- along with thousands of other activists like you.
One year later, Pussy Riot needs us to speak out -- more than ever. Why now? Because Pussy Riot continues to be a symbol of the Russian authorities' unreasonable crackdown on freedom of expression in Russia -- and the attacks on free speech in Russia are only getting worse with some disturbing new laws.
Did you know that:
- Conducting public protests in Russia could cost you up to U.S. $32,000 in fines?
- Human rights and political activism could potentially be treated as "treason" in Russia, thanks to a broad new legal definition?
- Foreign and domestic NGOs -- including those doing vital human rights work -- face increasingly severe restrictions on their operations in Russia?
And fight it we will! We will never give up our campaign to defend human rights and free speech in Russia.
On Monday, we'll be headed to the Russian Embassy, map in hand.
Tracy, will you stand for free speech and be on that map?
Free Pussy Riot!
Thank You,
Jasmine Heiss
Campaigner, Individuals and Communities at Risk
Amnesty International USA
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