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Amnesty to hold Write-for-Rights event

Nelson's group will host the event Saturday at the library and Sunday at Oso Negro.
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At its event on Saturday and Sunday

The pen has demonstrated power, and this weekend Nelson's Amnesty International group is inviting you to join them and communities around the entire world in their annual Write-for-Rights events.

"When the first 200 letters came the guards gave me back my clothes. When the next 200 arrived the prison director visited me.

"When the letters kept coming the President told them to let me go – and asked how I had so many friends around the world," said Julio De Pena Valdez of the Dominican Republic

Thus the power of a single letter written by someone in the world, and the underlying reason for Amnesty International's letter-writing campaigns.

Quite simply, these letters shine light into the dark corners; they remind those in charge that the world is watching, that the world knows who they are and will hold them responsible for their acts.

They also offer rays of hope to those suffering, too often alone and well-hidden, those like Sr. Valdez, above.

Once a year, Amnesty sponsors a series of world-wide write-a-thons, a time for whole communities to gather together in public spaces to write letters.

Once more, Nelson's Amnesty group is holding such a write-a-thon. Two, in fact – Saturday at the Library, and Sunday at Oso Negro, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

We invite you to join us for one of these – to drop in and spend 20 minutes writing a letter. You will find yourself in good company.

Materials will be available, as will background information and simple tips on how to write the letters.

Amnesty's symbol is a lighted candle. You can help light one more.