Tag: Amnesty International

‘The world is watching’: Amnesty report details human rights violations by US police during racial justice protests

AlterNet logoIn a report titled “The World is Watching,” Amnesty International USA revealed on Tuesday that U.S. police violated the human rights of protesters, medics, journalists, and other people at least 125 times in the first weeks of the current U.S. racial justice uprising.

Between May 26 and June 5, police in 40 states and Washington, D.C. responded to protests with “shocking amounts of excessive force,” according to (pdf) the organization.

Amnesty recorded the widespread “use of militarized equipment [and] excessive force including the use of batons, kinetic impact projectiles, and tear gas and pepper spray.” Continue reading.

Pompeo threatens family of ICC staff with consequences while bashing probe of US war crimes

AlterNet logoAmnesty International on Wednesday rebuked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over new comments bashing the International Criminal Court and threatening court staff—and their family members—investigating alleged war crimes committed by United States forces in Afghanistan.

“Threats against family members of ICC staff who are seeking justice is a new low, even for this administration,” said Daniel Balson, Amnesty International USA’s advocacy director.

Balson’s comments came a day a press briefing in which Pompeo told reporters the ICC is “a so-called court which is revealing itself to be a nakedly political body.” Continue reading.