February 2012 Action Item

Act!

While the citizens of the United States watched months ago with hope as Egyptians called for freedom and toppled the repressive regime, concern has now grown as those who have seized power are proving to be no less repressive or violent. Many of the men and women who risked their lives to fight Mubarak, now face tear gas and bullets propelled at them by the very people that were placed in power in the name of democracy and freedom. What is even more disturbing is that many of those weapons are made in the United States and sold to Egypt by the U.S. government. CAN is joining Amnesty International in calling on the U.S. State Department to make sure that no more U.S-made weapons reach Egypt or other regimes intent on suppressing freedom of expression through violence against their own populations.


WRITE TO:

Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Suggested points:

  • Express your hopefulness at the outcry and protests in Egypt and around the Middle East and Northern Africa, calling for freedom of expression and democracy in these totalitarian states.
  • Express, however, your great concern that those filling the power-vacuum in these states are no more dedicated to the values of freedom than their recent predecessors.
  • Indicate that the military leadership that has taken control in Egypt has proven totally unreliable, and it has become evident that certain groups, such as women, Christians, and other minorities are suffering far worse under those now in power.
  • For these reasons, urge that the United States ensure that no future shipments of weapons or tear gas be sold to Egypt or similar regimes.

Encourage!

While we were overjoyed that the current whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng were recently made known, we continue to call on the Chinese government to free this innocent man, who has been a voice of truth and freedom in China for years and has suffered indescribably for it.


Gao Zhisheng needs your support now more than ever. Send him a note of encouragement to:

Gao Zhisheng
Shaya Prison
Shaya County Aksu Prefecture
Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region 842208
People's Republic of China