New video: A message to CREDO members from Amnesty International USA

Margaret Huang, Amnesty International USA’s executive director, and Bruce Temkin, the organization’s national director of major gifts, visited the CREDO office in San Francisco on July 26th, 2016. They came to thank CREDO members for their support in May’s donations voting, which resulted in a contribution of $61,854 to Amnesty International USA.

While in the office, Huang discussed Amnesty’s plans for the next four years and took questions from CREDO staff. We created a brief and inspiring video sharing some highlights of the visit.

Amnesty is not only working on vital global issues like human rights and the refugee crisis but also on domestic issues such as police violence targeting African-Americans. A year ago the organization issued its first report on the use of lethal force by law enforcement in the U.S. Huang told us that “there are actually international standards, which the U.S. has contributed to, that explain how police can and should use lethal force. What we have found is that, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, not a single police department comes close to meeting the international standards.”

She noted that Amnesty has “been really eager to make sure the voices of protesters, particularly around Black Lives Matter, are given the freedom of expression like any others. A lot of our deployments, in not only Ferguson but also Baltimore, were focused on protecting that right to assemble, that right to speak freely.”

Huang also highlighted the impact that CREDO activists have made in Amnesty’s campaigns. “The power that we have together, CREDO and Amnesty working together, is really rather extraordinary,” she said. “It means that people on Capitol Hill will get personal calls or letters about what’s really important. I think that’s the biggest potential we have to effect change over time.”

While addressing these vital U.S. issues, Amnesty continues its critical work around the world. For example, over the past year the organization has helped free 144 prisoners of conscience. And Amnesty has accelerated its work on the global refugee crisis. More than 65 million people have been displaced over the past few years. Huang emphasized the need for activists to stand up and demand that governments welcome these displaced people and do more to help them.

CREDO is proud to have contributed over $1.1 million to Amnesty International over the past 30 years and we’re proud to continue supporting Amnesty’s vital mission in the future.

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