Messages of solidarity plea ‘It is clear there is a sad and pathetic group of lowlifes who are trying to spoil our community. But the resolute nature of residents and councillors will win the day through sheer perseverance...’

Amnesty International Canterbury group has launched its flagship annual letter-writing campaign, Write for Rights, to help change the lives of people around the world who have been attacked, jailed, harassed or disappeared for standing up for their rights.

Write for Rights goes back to the very roots of Amnesty International, which was founded in 1961, with Amnesty’s early campaigners writing letters of support to those affected by human rights abuses, as well as letters of concern to governments around the world. Canterbury residents are invited to send a card, email or tweet of support to individuals or groups of people whose freedoms are being denied. Letters can also

be written directly to those in power to demand an end to the abuses.

This year, the campaign – which is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery – will support individuals around the world who have suffered abuses. During last year’s campaign, more than six million messages of support were sent. Each letter made a huge difference to people who had put their lives and liberties on the line.

In Canterbury we held an event in the Friends’ meeting house where many residents signed over a hundred cards which were sent round the world. Covid has ruled that out this year.

But we have our usual stock of cards for people to send to the human rights defenders. If you would like your name to be added to our cards please email our chair Huw Kyffin at huwkyffin@ btinternet.com stating who you want to support, and any message. If you can write a message in the language of the recipient, so much the better! Alternatively, you can email these individuals directly by logging on to the Amnesty website at amnesty.org.uk/writefor-rights.